Breathe London - Pilot Phase (2018-2020) - Technical Report - January 2021

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword

Breathe London technical report details the pilot phase delivered by a consortium led by Environmental Defense Fund Europe and funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, with continued support from Clean Air Fund and Valhalla Charitable Foundation. It describes how a stationary sensor network and mobile mapping campaign were deployed and calibrated from July 2018 to November 2020, plus a wearables study. It also outlines the Breathe London platform, public awareness activities, and data-model work informing policy, including ULEZ, CO2 emission indices, COVID-19 impact, source apportionment modelling, and hotspot analysis.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages45

Reading Time1 h 53 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1 The Breathe London project

1.1 Overview

1.2 Aims, goals and data objectives

Part 2 Setting up the network and collecting data

2.1 Stationary sensor network

2.2 Stationary sensor network calibration methods

2.3 Key considerations for future projects from the stationary network

2.4 Mobile mapping deployment

2.5 Key considerations for future projects from the mobile mapping campaign

2.6 Wearables study

Part 3 Data presentation and public awareness

3.1 The Breathe London platform

3.2 Public awareness

Part 4 Using data and models to inform policy

4.1 Ultra Low Emission Zone

4.2 CO2 emission indices

4.3 COVID-19 impact analysis

4.4 Source apportionment modelling

4.5 Improvements to London’s air quality model

4.6 Hyperlocal mobile insights

4.7 Hotspot analysis

Part 5 Replicability, learnings and recommendations

5.1 Reproducible project components

5.2 Key learnings and recommendations

5.3 Conclusion

Part 6 Appendices

Breathe London Technical Report Pilot Phase (2018–2020) January 2021 BREATHE LONDON PARTNERS Acknowledgements The pilot phase of Breathe London was delivered by a consortium led by Environmental Defense Fund Europe and funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, with continued funding from Clean Air Fund and additional funding support provided by Valhalla Charitable Foundation. The project was convened by C40 Cities, the leading global alliance of cities committed to addressing climate change, and the Greater London Authority. The project consortium included ACOEM Air Monitors, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Google Earth Outreach, the National Physical Laboratory and the University of Cambridge. The Wearables study was commissioned by the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London (formerly at King’s College London). The pilot phase ran from July 2018 to November 2020. Breathe London partners would like to thank the many hosts of Breathe London air quality monitors including local councils, schools and residents, as well as the scientific and project advisors, technical partners and other nongovernmental organisation partners for their contributions. The lessons and insights gained from Breathe London draw from these collective efforts. Table of Contents Part 1 The Breathe London project......................................................................................... 4 1.1 Overview............................................................................................................................5 1.2 Aims, goals and data objectives .........................................................................................6 Part 2 Setting up the network and collecting data................................................................. 8 2.1 Stationary sensor network..................................................................................................9 2.2 Stationary sensor network calibration methods ................................................................ 11 2.3 Key considerations for future projects from the stationary network................................... 13 2.4 Mobile mapping deployment ............................................................................................ 17 2.5 Key considerations for future projects from the mobile mapping campaign ......................20 2.6 Wearables study ..............................................................................................................21 Part 3 Data presentation and public awareness ...................................................................22 3.1 The Breathe London platform...........................................................................................23 3.2 Public awareness .............................................................................................................25 Part 4 Using data and models to inform policy.....................................................................27 4.1 Ultra Low Emission Zone .................................................................................................28 4.2 CO2 emission indices .......................................................................................................30 4.3 COVID-19 impact analysis ...............................................................................................31 4.4 Source apportionment modelling......................................................................................32 4.5 Improvements to London’s air quality model ....................................................................34 4.6 Hyperlocal mobile insights ...............................................................................................34 4.7 Hotspot analysis ..............................................................................................................34 Part 5 Replicability, le

FAQs

Who delivered and funded the Breathe London pilot phase?

The pilot phase was delivered by a consortium led by Environmental Defense Fund Europe. It was funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, with continued funding from Clean Air Fund and additional support from Valhalla Charitable Foundation.

What data-collection methods were used during the pilot phase (2018–2020)?

The report covers a stationary sensor network, including calibration methods, a mobile mapping deployment and campaign considerations, and a wearables study commissioned by the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London.

How was Breathe London data and modelling used to inform policy?

The report describes work supporting policy decisions such as the Ultra Low Emission Zone, CO2 emission indices, COVID-19 impact analysis, source apportionment modelling, improvements to London’s air quality model, and analyses including hotspot and hyperlocal insights.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Aldword