1 Trialling low cost monitoring equipment as part of the wider future evidence programme

Our project, OxAir, innovates by taking a 180° turn on the traditional barriers to the acceptance of sensors as an integral part of the LAQM toolkit. Rather than focussing solely on improving sensor technology as the fix-all, OxAir aims to establish and communicate best-practice, understanding and transparency in order to get the best out of AQ sensors. This in turn will contribute to local and national evidence supporting policy decision making, public information, public awareness and behavioural change. OxAir also shows great potential as a tool to demonstrate the effectiveness of measures to reduce air pollution, thereby contributing to improved cost-benefit analyses. OxAir, where possible aims to link its research up with other programmes e.g. Defra’s planned sensor test bed.

2 Supporting long-term solutions through awareness and behaviour change.
OxAir aims to explore the development of the next generation in LAQM tools that can deliver an evidence base on the spatial and temporal scales needed by local policy development today and in the future. By engaging with stakeholders, involving them in project delivery and making project outcomes accessible at all levels OxAir aims to promote awareness and behaviour change. As part of the work programme we aim to explore;
● A high-resolution evidence base that can contribute to;
᠆ improved, well informed, accelerated policies
᠆ fostering engagement between policy makers, the public and pressure groups
᠆ education via projects with schools and communities
᠆ helping monitor progress to target and avoidance of AQ displacement issues (no harm)
● Differential changes in NO2 and PM levels in Oxford e.g. road-to-road variations and diurnal cycles with the Council’s monitoring acting as a reference point of absolute values
● Day-to-day personal exposure to air pollution at high spatio-temporal resolutions
● Best practice / standard operating procedures (SOP) for ambient AQ sensors
● General and public service user needs for AQ information to promote understanding, behaviour change, personal and local government decision making
● Web based tools to facilitate and educate on choices that are relevant to Oxford’s residents and visitors
We anticipate that outputs from these exploratory activities will allow Oxford residents, urban planners and decision makers to take more tangibly account for the factors that lead to increased local emissions, concentrations and personal exposures. By facilitating knowledge exchange OxAir will allow residents to envision how they might adapt day-to-day behaviours and reduce both their emissions and exposure, such as changing commuting routes and/or time of travel.