The MegaSense research programme at the University of Helsinki builds on the idea to cover dense urban areas with a network of air-quality sensors to discover the causes of air pollution. A large number of sensors will be an aid in building a real-time image of a city’s air quality. MegaSense has made a contract to collaborate with Elisa, a communications, ICT, and online-services company. Elisa brings its network technology to the project to seek new innovations.
The MegaSense research programme is already using Elisa’s NB-IoT network in Kumpula. Next, a 5G network will be opened for MegaSense; this network will be available to the City of Helsinki, which is hosting the project, as well as start-ups operating in the Kumpula area. In addition to Helsinki, the project is also acting in Beijing.
The new network technology will connect the sensors, enable efficient data-gathering, and support ever more intelligent sensor management, according to Sasu Tarkoma, professor in computer science.
“We are developing a new kind of network of air-quality sensors, where the operational environment of each sensor is automatically identified and measurement errors are minimized. Methods of artificial intelligence are enabling a significant improvement in the function of cheap sensors.”
A significant part of the MegaSense programme is the UrbanSense project, combining the 5G test platforms and carrying out research into network technologies and their use. The goal of the project is to create an open 5G innovation platform, along with a good framework for developing network and service businesses.
Further reading
Twitter @mega_sense
In future, Helsinki residents can receive real-time and detailed air-quality data – the HOPE project receives large EU funding (11 Oct 2018)
University of Helsinki and Nokia Bell Labs develop smart 5G technology to monitor air quality (9 Mar 2018)