Improving air quality in urban areas close to road traffic

We have taken part in the development of a system that reduces atmospheric pollution caused by road traffic in the city. The system uses moss as a plant filter and improves air quality in the urban environment, and this has a direct impact on citizens' quality of life.

It is the first time that moss has been installed in a Basque city. It is an indigenous plant able to bioaccumulate heavy metals that can be found in particles emitted from vehicles: its form emulates a plant façade or panel.

GIS methodology based on indicators

Air Garden and Kimubat have worked with TECNALIA on the design of a GIS methodology based on weather, urban and social indicators: the optimal areas for these solutions are established; and the different kinds of moss are characterised in the lab according to their ability to absorb pollutants (with test procedures and specific equipment) and to their water absorption capacity and drying kinetics. Finally, they are validated in the field.

Thanks to the installation of the prototype in Vitoria-Gasteiz, we will be able to know how the system performs in its final location, analyse the heavy metal filtration capacity of various moss species, and their maintenance needs. This will help us to make the required adjustments before marketing it.

The prototype has been developed as part of the Hazitek MOSSFILT project and has been co-funded by the Basque Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

For further information

Jose Miguel Abascal (647 401 537)