Air pollution is a significant problem in the Balkan area, especially in N. Macedonia. The World Health Organization (WHO) Ambient Pollution Database for 2018 ranks Skopje as Europe’s most polluted capital city regarding mean concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 (UNEP, 2018). According to Dimovska & Mladenovska (2019, p.428), air pollution significantly impacts the health and disease rate in North Macedonia. Extreme air pollution and the resulting dramatically increased risk of airborne diseases reduce the area’s attractiveness as a center of life and work.

The CleanBREATHE collaborative project Technical & Educational Solution Strategies on Air Pollution through a Blended Research Approach; Subproject: User Interface Design, Social Intervention, and Citizen Participation aims to explore the impact of awareness-raising strategies and the effect of mobile survey methods disseminated through social networks. The analysis and visualization of air quality data are intended to sharpen the general public’s perception of air pollution and related problems. The intended goals for reducing air pollution through the CleanBREATHE project are divided into three sub-goals:

In the CleanBREATHE project, a design science research approach is used to test and further develop existing solutions and new approaches for forecasting air quality (prototypes). For this purpose, algorithms will be used to analyze data, extract air pollution characteristics and relate them to each other. CleanBREATHE will, in part, use the existing infrastructure of sensors and air quality data to raise awareness of air pollution. Based on the AirCare app, the concept, design, and technical implementation of such survey tools will be further developed.
We use the principle of mobile crowdsensing to collect additional data. The gain in locations and time periods in which data is collected improves the reliability of forecasts. The data is visually presented to users so that the app provides added educational value in the form of recommendations for action and ultimately encourages behavioral change.
Workshops with citizens and students will raise awareness of the topic and increase participation in the data collection. In addition, a direct transfer of knowledge about air pollution and solutions for companies will be discussed. The goal is to raise public awareness of environmental issues and ultimately reduce air pollution.
In a next step, the research results will be presented to policymakers. A marketable digital product at reasonable prices will be developed to achieve these goals with technological components that advance particulate matter awareness.

01.10.2021 – 31.09.2024

• Magdeburg–Stendal University of Applied Sciences, Department of Economics, Research
  group SPiRIT
• Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (SCMU), Republic of North Macedonia, Faculty of
  Computer Science and Engineering (FCSE), Laboratory for Eco–Informatics
• Florian Brody, Business Innovation Coach, San Francisco

• Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, WBC2019)
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)