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As RI-URBANS approaches its final phase, we are preparing a comprehensive portfolio of dissemination, communication, and publication activities to showcase the project’s full impact and ensure its legacy lives on. We have recently completed a deliverable on open publications and dissemination outputs. However, we are aware that several valuable contributions may not yet be captured. To truly reflect the collective efforts of the RI-URBANS community, we are calling on all project partners to report any scientific, communication, or dissemination activities that are connected to the project. We are looking for: Peer-reviewed scientific publications Conference presentations and proceedings Posters and abstracts Theses (MSc, PhD, etc.) Media articles, blogs, or podcasts Public talks and events Educational materials Any other outreach or dissemination activity linked to RI-URBANS Why is this important? Your contributions matter. By collecting all outputs, we can: Demonstrate the wide impact of RI-URBANS beyond the scientific community. Ensure recognition of your work in the final project reporting. Build a public legacy that can be used to inspire and support future activities in urban air quality and atmospheric research. How to contribute Please use the following forms to report your contributions: the dissemination and communication activities:fill in this form publications/ a book / a book chapter / a publication in a conference or workshop / thesis: fill in this form   Thank you for helping us amplify the RI-URBANS legacy!

A new international study led by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) and  Guangdong University of Technology, in collaboration with over 20 European institutions, has delivered the most comprehensive source apportionment analysis of PM10 pollution in Europe to date. Published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, the study analyzed multi-year chemical speciation data from 24 monitoring sites across six European countries—France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland—using a harmonized Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. This uniform approach allows direct comparison of pollution sources across diverse urban environments. Seven major sources of PM10 were identified: road traffic, biomass burning, crustal/mineral dust, secondary aerosols, industrial emissions, sea salt, and heavy oil combustion (HOC). Among them, road traffic emerged as the leading contributor in most urban areas, accounting for up to 41% of PM10 concentrations in high-traffic zones. Biomass burning was widespread, especially in winter, with contributions reaching 40% at some sites. Secondary aerosols—largely formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere—were also significant, representing up to 68% of PM10 at certain locations. One key insight from the study is that source profiles such as traffic, sea salt, and secondary aerosols were chemically consistent across sites, whereas industrial, crustal, and HOC sources showed substantial local variability. The research also highlighted the limitations of missing key chemical tracers (e.g., levoglucosan), which can reduce source resolution at some locations. This work is a major contribution to the RI-URBANS initiative, which aims to enhance urban air quality management by bridging cutting-edge research with practical implementation in European cities. By standardizing methodologies and improving data comparability, the study supports more targeted and effective air pollution control strategies. Learn more about this collaborative study led by Xiansheng Liu from Guangdong University of Technology here .

We are pleased to share that RI-URBANS has been featured in the latest edition of the Green Deal Projects Support Office (GDPSO) newsletter, now available online. Under the headline “Tools for improving air quality in cities,” the newsletter highlights RI-URBANS’ development of 16 innovative tools aimed at helping European cities address emerging and complex air pollution challenges. These tools are designed to enable advanced measurements and assessments of harmful urban air pollutants — equipping cities with the data they need to take evidence-based action to improve air quality and protect public health. This recognition underscores the relevance and impact of RI-URBANS within the broader European Green Deal framework and the EU’s ongoing commitment to a cleaner, healthier environment for all citizens. Read the full newsletter article here

A DG ENV meeting was held on 18 June 2025 in Brussels, bringing together key representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV), the European Environment Agency (EEA), and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). During this session, the co-coordinators of the RI-URBANS project, Tuukka Petäjä and Xavier Querol, presented and discussed the project's major outcomes. The three-hour meeting provided an important platform to explore how RI-URBANS results are being integrated into the development and implementation of the new Ambient Air Quality Directive (EU) 2024/2881 — a critical step forward in Europe’s efforts to improve air quality and protect public health. Participants also discussed the role of ACTRIS-ERIC in supporting the directive's implementation across the short, medium, and long term. The dialogue highlighted the essential contribution of cutting-edge scientific data and infrastructure to shaping and sustaining effective EU environmental policy. This productive dialogue marks an important step forward in bridging scientific outcomes with environmental policymaking in Europe.

A new RI-URBANS study presents the first high-resolution air quality maps of Bucharest, using mobile sensors and mixed-effects land-use regression (LUR) modeling. The research focused on NO₂, PM₁₀, and ultrafine particles (UFP) during both warm and cold seasons. The study aimed to address spatial gaps left by Bucharest’s limited network of fixed monitoring stations. Key findings:  Warm Season: Traffic emerged as the dominant source of PM₁₀ and NO₂, with higher pollutant gradients along principal roads, including the Bucharest ring road.  Cold Season: A more uniform distribution of PM₁₀ sources was observed, attributed largely to residential and power-plant heating, with elevated levels of fine particles citywide.  Environmental Sinks: Green and water areas were effective at reducing NO₂ and fine particle concentrations. This approach supports more effective urban air quality policies and shows the potential for citizen-based monitoring to improve data coverage in hard-to-reach areas. Read the full study led by Camelia Talianu here.

A new publication from the RI-URBANS community investigates how the CET Vest thermal power plant influences air pollution in Bucharest, Romania. Using a novel mix of low-cost sensors, satellite data (TropOMI, CAMS), and advanced statistical models (LUR, Random Forests), the study evaluated pollutant levels near the plant and across the city—aligned with the revised EU Air Quality Directive 2884/2024/EC. Key findings: NO₂ is the main pollutant linked to the plant, especially in winter. Residential heating  is the dominant source of PM pollution in colder months rather than the power plant. Wind patterns generally disperse emissions away from residential areas. This multi-source approach provides valuable insight into the role of industrial sources vs. local heating and traffic in urban air pollution.  Read the full story of this interesting study led by Doina Nicolae  here

A new publication from the RI-URBANS community presents a novel approach to simulate source-resolved PM2.5 air pollution at 1 × 1 km² resolution, applied in Athens, Greece. Using the PMCAMx model and PSAT  algorithm, the study quantifies both local and regional sources of PM2.5 and estimates human exposure to different local and regional sources based on population data.           Key findings: Residential biomass burning and transportation are top local contributors. High-resolution modelling reveals spatial detail missed by coarser grids. PM population exposure is influenced by local sources more than PM levels Supports better-informed urban air quality and public health policies Dig more into this interesting study led by Evangelia Siouti  here.

We are proud to announce that in the newly published guidance documents from DG ENV on air quality monitoring and modelling, RI-URBANS project  is widely cited. These key documents, now available via the Publications Office of the EU, support the implementation of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive. Link to the documents in publications office of the EU: Air quality monitoring for air quality policy Air quality modelling for air quality policy

Tuukka Petäjä presented the RI-URBANS-ACTRIS Service Tools in the 26th Annual Meeting of the Task Force on Measurements and Modelling (TFMM) in Potsdam, Germany, on May 5 to 7, 2025. This event was organised under the framework of the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and is a key component of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). The service tools provide guidance to the Member States to respond to the new air quality directive. Link to STs here.