Air pollution contributes to 7,600 Swedes dying prematurely each year, according to a study from the IVL Swedish Environmental Institute and Umeå University. Scientists also see that bad air can make us unhappy.

Expressen (read article)

About

The air you breathe is of great importance for your physical health and your mental well-being. But microscopic particles and harmful gases cannot be seen with the naked eye. Happy Commuter makes the invisible, visible and shows the cleanest ways around the city based on real-time regional air quality data. All you have to do is enter where you are and where you are going.

Street with particles and screenshot of Ramboll Happy Commuter app

Technology

Each possible cycling route retrieved from Google maps was split into 10 coordinates distributed equally over time (not distance). We then used the air quality API to measure air quality (PM10, PM2.5 and NO2) on each of these and calculate the EAQI (European Air Quality Index). Time and EAQI together generated a score for each route.

Effect

The project sparked discussions and reflection on the health effects of poor air quality and how duration may not be the only relevant factor when cycling from A to B. The site was even given airtime by the morning show on TV4 in Sweden.

TV4 Morning Show presenting Ramboll Happy Commuter
Credits: DVA, Garbergs, Ramboll