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Final RI-URBANS Project Video Now Available

We are thrilled to announce the release of our final project video, now live on the RI-URBANS website  and the  ACTRIS YouTube channel. This short film highlights the 16 co-designed Service Tools developed by RI-URBANS to support advanced air quality assessment in urban environments. These tools are the result of close collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders, working together to turn cutting-edge research into practical solutions for cleaner, healthier city air. Whether you're a researcher, decision-maker, or simply passionate about environmental sustainability, this video offers valuable insights into how science is shaping the future of urban air quality.

By |2025-05-19T10:37:09+00:00May 19, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

New RI-URBANS Study Develops AI-Powered Tool to Improve PM10 Source Apportionment in Cities

A team of researchers from Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU) and the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), in collaboration with European partners, has unveiled LPO-XGBoost—a cutting-edge machine learning model designed to enhance the identification of PM10 pollution sources in urban environments. By integrating traditional Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) with a nonlinear XGBoost algorithm, the model offers a significant leap forward in air quality analysis. Tested across 21 European monitoring sites, LPO-XGBoost demonstrated high predictive accuracy (R² = 0.88), particularly excelling at pinpointing sources such as sea salt and biomass burning. This innovation is part of the RI-URBANS initiative, which aims to bridge the gap between scientific advances and practical air quality management across European cities. Dig more into this interesting study led by Ying Liu here.

By |2025-05-07T14:17:26+00:00May 7, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

Final RI-URBANS Science Meeting, Barcelona, Spain (8-9 September 2025 )

We are pleased to announce that the FINAL RI-URBANS Science Meeting will take place in Barcelona on 8-9 September 2025 in both online and face-to-face formats, followed by an online RI-URBANS Webinar on 10 September to present the 17 Guidance documents for the implementation of measurements and modelling for novel air quality pollutants. Date: September 8-9, 2025 Time: 9h-18h (CEST) Location: Barcelona, RESIDÈNCIA D’INVESTIGADORS, C/Hospital, 64, 08001 Barcelona (Spain) You are warmly welcome to participate by filling out this registration form web-form.   Registration Deadline: Jun 30, 2025. You can find details about the scope of the meeting, along with practical information for in-person attendees — including the venue, accommodation options, and travel guidance — here. Check out the agenda — here If you have any question, please, do not hesitate to contact Nahid Atashi (nahid.atashi@helsinki.fi) or Marta Monge (marta.monge@idaea.csic.es).

By |2025-06-18T13:49:02+00:00May 6, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

RI-URBANS Results Presented at EGU 2025

We were proud to present key RI-URBANS findings at the EGU General Assembly 2025 ( Vienna, Austria; 27 April–2 May) across three scientific sessions, highlighting innovative approaches to urban air quality monitoring and assessment. Integrated Research Infrastructures Session RI-URBANS: New air quality parameters for an advanced policy assessment in urban Europe (Abstract) Presented by Xavier Querol Source Apportionment Session RI-URBANS: Source apportionment of different pollutants in urban Europe (Abstract) Presented by Xavier Querol Low-Cost Sensors Session Performance of low-cost sensors to measure PM₁₀: do they also measure coarse particles? (Abstract) Presented by Martine Van Poppel These contributions reflect "RI-URBANS' commitment to advancing science-based tools for improving air quality in different aspects.

By |2025-05-06T10:14:47+00:00May 6, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

New RI-URBANS Study Highlights Fine-Scale Air Pollution Mapping Across Five Major European Cities

A new RI-URBANS publication led by Karine Sartelet  quantifies intra-urban air pollution variability across five European cities (Paris, Athens, Birmingham, Rotterdam, and Bucharest) —at a resolution finer than 100 meters. Using advanced modeling techniques, the study compares both regulated (NO₂, PM₂.₅) and emerging pollutants (black carbon, ultrafine particles), quantifying their temporal and spatial variabilities. These findings highlight the importance of fine-scale mapping to better estimate population exposure and inform public health strategies. The study also offers methodological guidance to improve urban air quality models in line with upcoming EU Air Quality Directive updates. Check out the full article here:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109474

By |2025-05-01T09:20:19+00:00April 30, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

RI-URBANS Webinar (16th April 2025): Launch of 17 Guidance Documents for Novel Air Quality Pollutants

We are pleased to invite you to a special RI-URBANS webinar to present 17 published guidance documents supporting the implementation of advanced measurements and modelling techniques for novel air quality (AQ) pollutants. This event is part of the EU Horizon 2020 project RI-URBANS, in connection with the new European Air Quality Directive (EU) 2024/2881. The webinar will provide a brief introduction to RI-URBANS, the Service Tools (STs) and the “Summary and Added Value” booklet.  They provide actionable recommendations for supersites, including guidance on measurements, source apportionment, health assessment, mapping, and modelling. Date: 16 April 2025Time: 10:00 – 11:30 CEST Agenda: Check out the agenda Online link: Join the webinar Contact details: Xavier Querol (xavier.querol@idaea.csic.es) Tuukka Petäjä (tuukka.petaja@helsinki.fi)

By |2025-04-08T12:47:26+00:00April 7, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

Italian Stakeholder Meeting on Air Quality: RI-URBANS Workshop in Rome (April 7-8, 2025)

Rome, April 7-8, 2025 – The upcoming Italian Stakeholder Meeting  will bring together key players in air quality research and policy at the National Research Council in Rome. This crucial workshop, aims to foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and environmental agencies to advance air quality monitoring and management in Italy and across Europe. As part of the RI-URBANS project, the workshop will provide a platform for Italian stakeholders to engage in discussions on the latest developments in air quality standards and strategies. The event will focus on the dissemination of RI-URBANS Service Tools (STs), which are designed to enhance urban air quality monitoring by integrating advanced measurement techniques and modeling approaches. By bringing together national and regional stakeholders, this workshop will strengthen cooperation and pave the way for improved air quality management strategies in Italy and beyond. Interested onsite participants are encouraged to register via the following link: Register Here. The event could be also followed remotely via this link Here you can find the agenda for the meeting. Notice: Presentations and discussions will be mostly in Italian. For more information or if you experience any issues accessing the link, please contact Nicola Gianluca Di Fiore (nicolagialnuca.difiore@cnr.it).  

By |2025-04-02T17:55:33+00:00April 2, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

Successful Launch of 2nd International Intercomparison of Oxidative Potential Protocols

We are thrilled to announce that the 2nd International Intercomparison of Oxidative Potential Protocols has officially been launched on March 25th! This significant initiative, involving a broad network of experts, is a collaborative effort under the frameworks of RI-Urbans and ACTRIS. With 29 laboratories participating, the intercomparison is set to provide valuable insights into the consistency and reliability of oxidative potential measurement protocols. Most of the sample parcels have already reached their designated destinations, the results will be coming soon. Following this, the data will undergo comprehensive analysis by the Joint Research Centre (JRC).  

By |2025-03-27T15:21:12+00:00March 27, 2025|newspost|0 Comments

A series of training events addressing harmonized measurements of emerging pollutants of the new air quality directive

In November 2024 Directive (EU) 2024/2881 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe has been published. This is connected to the European Union's objective towards zero pollution by 2050 facilitating prevention of premature deaths due to air pollution. The new air quality directive merges the 2004 and 2008 legislation and responds to the World Health Organization recommendations on lower guideline standards and to monitor additional air pollutants, such as Ultrafine Particle (UFP) and Black Carbon (BC) concentrations. The European Member States have two years to transpose the requirements of the new air quality directive. RI-URBANS co-organizes a series of training events addressing harmonized measurements of emerging pollutants of the new air quality directive with the Network of Air Quality Reference Laboratories (AQUILA), Aerosols, Clouds and TRace gases Research InfraStructure (ACTRIS) and European Environmental Agency (EEA). The training is organized in a series of on-line sessions concentrating on different aspects of the emerging pollutants and air quality directive requirements. Schedule: Training #1: 23.1. 2025 09:30 – 11:30 CET     Aerosol particle number concentration Training #2: 27.1. 2025 09:30 – 11:30 CET     Aerosol particle number size distribution Training #3: 11.2. 2025 09:30 – 11:30 CET     Equivalent Black Carbon More details: Detailed agenda and links for all the training sessions can be found here. Please check out the Slides and Video for the first Training event. For more information please contact Tuukka Petäjä (tuukka.petaja@helsinki.fi) and Xavier Querol (xavier.querol@idaea.csic.es)  

By |2025-03-12T10:41:52+00:00January 24, 2025|events, newspost, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The RI-URBANS 3rd Science Meeting held in Helsinki to discuss the progress of the project

A total of 135 participants from 55 organisations attended the 3rd scientific  meeting in a hybrid format The 3rd RI-URBANS Science Meeting successfully took place in Helsinki, Finland on September 25-26, 2023, bringing together 47 onsite and 77 online attendees from 55 institutions worldwide, including notable organizations such as EMEP, WMO, WHO, ACTRIS, IAGOS, and ICOS. Revision of the 2nd reporting period, updates of the work packages (WPs), and the display of open data and service tools were some of the topics that were covered As this event represented the mid-term project meeting, several important topics were addressed: Summery of research outputs: from WPs since the 2nd Science Meeting  (2023 – 2024) Developed RI-URBANS Service Tools and their applications (RI-URBANS provides 16 advanced Service Tools to meet the demands of new and complex urban air quality scenarios and enhance the analysis of air quality). Guidance documents (Art 10, Annex 7 of new EU AQ directive) for implementing advanced AQ parameters (UPF, PSD, BC, NH3, VOCs, PM speciation, source apportionment, evaluation of health effects). Added value of measuring the listed above AQ parameters at Pan-European scale in urban areas. Open access to RI-URBANS compiled data.    

By |2024-10-03T08:09:59+00:00October 3, 2024|newspost, Uncategorized|0 Comments
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