In Ghent (Belgium), more than 250 residents will be measuring air quality in and around their homes for three months.
This pilot project, called ‘Luchtmeters’ (Air meters), aims to map particulate matter pollution (PM 2.5), an essential source of pollution from wood stoves, traffic, and industry. The pilot is also intended to share experiences and raise awareness of the risks posed by particulate matter.
“We’ve distributed a total of 301 mobile sensors in Ghent,” explains Celien Van Gorp of the Flemish Environment Agency (Vlaamse MilieuMaatschappij, VMM). “We’ll be deploying the mobile sensors for six weeks.
Participants will walk or cycle with them for a few hours a day. A GPS collects data, and participants can see, via colored lights, whether there’s a lot or a little particulate matter in the air. Blue is good, red is bad.”
Mobile and permanent sensors
There are also permanent sensors that take non-stop measurements for three months. “All participants experience nuisance or burn wood at home. Some sensors are installed indoors at 41 locations, near fireplaces or ventilation systems. We also use questionnaires, and participants keep a logbook,” continues Van Gorp.
The collected information is shared live via an online platform, after which researchers and the City of Ghent can conduct analyses to raise awareness and ultimately support policy on air quality and wood smoke. The project links data to residents’ experiences, not just technology — promoting broader engagement.
“The pilot project is already a huge success,” says Filip Wateeuw (Green), Alderman in Ghent. “900 Ghent residents applied, and we were ultimately able to select over a third of them.”
Invisible pollutant
Fine dust is an invisible pollutant that causes many health problems in the short and long term. Sources include wood-burning, traffic, and industry. Even small amounts can be harmful to your health. Think of heart and lung problems, asthma attacks, premature death, or reduced lung growth in children.
The measuring started on December 15th and will end by March 2026. The results will be published by the summer of 2026. Participants can view the results of their own measuring device during the measurement period. Ghent also wants to take measures later based on the results.
Similar air measurements have already been conducted in Belgium. Think of CurieuzenAir in Brussels or CurieuzeNeuzen in Antwerp. Similar initiatives involving citizens in air quality surveys have also taken place in other European countries.
