This project aims to improve the urban life by using the energy in a more efficient way, reducing the pollutants and the level of pollution, the carbon footprint of each of us as well as the entire community.
According to global statistics published by IQAir in 2020, “the highest levels of European pollution are found in Eastern and Southern Europe, with about half of European cities registering high values of solid and liquid pollutants (suspended dust – PM2,5 and PM10) as well as other types of air pollutants.”
Data published by the European Environment Agency, show that in Romania in recent years there have been increased values of air pollutants, which has both immediate and long-term effects on human health. The highest values are noticeable in urban areas, especially near cities with a population of more than 300,000 people. As for Bucharest, its residents have less than 10 m2 of green space per person [4], according to information provided by the Green Space Register, while other European capitals, with a larger population than Bucharest, have surfaces from 3 to 12 times larger.
In this context, we aimed to study air pressure, temperature and humidity in several areas close to our school, as well as in school, while identifying opportunities to improve air quality in the areas studied. It is known that both the ambient temperature and its humidity are influenced by altitude, physical and geographical position, human activity but also by the chemical composition of the air, respectively by the presence of different types of particles in its composition.
Our research starts from the following hypotheses:
I1 -Environmental temperature is influenced by the presence of plants;
I2 – Atmospheric pressure is not influenced by the presence of green plants;
I3 – Air humidity is influenced by the presence of green plants.
Objectives:
- Collecting data on air quality in Bucharest, especially around our school;
- Studying the influence of environmental factors (vegetation, traffic, industry, etc.) on the degree of air purity;
- Providing arguments and solutions to improve urban life by reducing the carbon footprint of each of us, but also of the entire community;
With help from the specialists, the students involved in this project managed to set up sensors that collect data regarding temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and also place a few plant pots with the purpose of improving the air quality in school. The project activities focused on the study of the air quality around the school’s surroundings, as well as finding comparative data and further ways and means of raising the community awareness regarding the reduction of pollution and keeping the environment clean.
The team composed of students and teachers received the support of the scientific community through Mrs. Mihaela Gheorghiu (researcher, International Center for Biodynmics), Mrs. Ileana Dugăeșescu (university lecturer specialized in Arduino board programming), Mr. Tudor Anghel- (student- Universitatea Politehnica București), Mr. Andrei Neacșu (researcher, Institute of Phyiscs and Nuclear Ingineering ”Horia Hulubei”), Mr. Andrei Radu (researcher, Institute of Phyiscs and Nuclear Ingineering ”Horia Hulubei”), Mr. Bogdan Popovici (researcher, Institute of Phyiscs and Nuclear Ingineering ”Horia Hulubei”). On the reporting side, we were coached by Lucian Cremeneanu, independent journalist, and Andreea Drilea, professional photographer. The team was assisted and helped throughout the project by Marius Lazăr, PULCHRA consultant from the national partner, CNPEE.
