EMSOL, a leader in air quality monitoring technology, has launched a groundbreaking collaboration with Transport for London (TfL) and Paris’s RATP Group testing specialised sensors for underground transit environments. This one-year project, funded by EIT Urban Mobility (part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology), aims to transform how metro systems worldwide monitor and manage air quality in underground spaces.

The initiative will deploy the EMSOL Praxis air quality instruments across five key metro stations – Baker Street, Tottenham Court Road, and Hampstead in London, and Auber and Jaures in Paris – serving transport systems that collectively carry approximately 8 million passengers daily.

“Underground air quality presents unique monitoring challenges compared to surface environments,” said Freddie Talberg, CEO of EMSOL. “By partnering with two of Europe’s busiest metro systems, we’re developing technology that could benefit the health of millions of daily commuters worldwide.”

With the average London Underground journey taking 50 minutes and ridership at over 4 million daily journeys, effective air quality management has never been more critical for passenger wellbeing. The project aligns with TfL’s three-pillar approach to improving underground air quality: cleaning and monitoring, research, and innovation.

The project follows a two-phase approach: initial deployment of existing monitoring equipment alongside reference instruments, followed by development of enhanced sensors specifically engineered for the distinctive conditions of underground environments.

This partnership unites EMSOL’s monitoring expertise with the operational knowledge of TfL and RATP Group, supported by world-class research from Imperial College London. This unique collaboration bridges the gap between cutting-edge environmental science and practical transit operations, targeting a critical public health challenge that affects millions of daily commuters across major cities worldwide.

The project outcomes are expected to benefit metro systems worldwide, providing affordable, accurate monitoring solutions for underground environments that have traditionally presented significant technical challenges for conventional air quality sensors.

About EMSOL

EMSOL is a leading cleantech company delivering precision air quality monitoring and emissions reduction solutions across 13 countries and more than 500 sites worldwide. Founded in 2017, EMSOL’s innovative technology combines high-precision sensors, smart cameras, and advanced analytics to help organisations identify the exact causes of pollution events. This unique capability enables clients across construction, healthcare, waste management and transport sectors to implement targeted interventions that measurably reduce emissions from vehicles, equipment, and site operations. For more information, visit www.emsol.io 

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