INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY: AN INTEGRATED AND SCALABLE MONITORING APPROACH
Air quality is now at the centre of a rapidly evolving European regulatory framework. The new EU Directive 2024/2881 introduces stricter standards aligned with WHO air quality guidelines, establishing new limit values for PM2.5, NO₂ and other pollutants, alongside strengthened obligations for monitoring and public information.
The Directive also formally recognizes indicative measurements as an official monitoring category, opening the way for the structured use of low-cost sensors in distributed and scalable monitoring networks, supported by the technical standard CEN/TS 17660-2:2024 for performance evaluation.
For companies, public bodies and local administrations, adapting to this scenario is not only a compliance requirement, but also a strategic opportunity for health protection, smart building management and ESG reporting.
Meeting these needs requires differentiated solutions:
- high-accuracy systems for scientifically robust reference measurements
- low-cost sensor networks for distributed, flexible and scalable monitoring strategies
WHAT PROAMBIENTE DOES
PROAMBIENTE provides indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring services, developed as dedicated solutions but also deployable in an integrated manner to analyse the interaction between indoor and outdoor environments.
Each service uses dedicated systems and monitoring protocols, ensuring reliable measurements aligned with the analytical objectives and the specific characteristics of the monitored environment.
For low-cost sensor solutions, each sensor undergoes characterization and performance validation against high-accuracy reference instrumentation under controlled conditions, including temperature, relative humidity, pollutant concentration levels.
We also provide third-party sensor characterization services, rental solutions, custom monitoring system supply and deployment
INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT MONITORING
Modular systems for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and environmental comfort monitoring enable measurement of:
- gaseous pollutants (CO₂, NOx, CO, O₂, O₃, tVOC, BTEX)
- atmospheric particulate matter and Black Carbon
- temperature, relative humidity, illuminance and acoustic pollution
Measurements can be performed using high-accuracy systems, primarily for short- to medium-term campaigns (typically weeks), and fixed low-cost monitoring installations. For low-cost systems, all the above parameters are available except BTEX and Black Carbon.
OUTDOOR AIR QUALITY MONITORING
Available systems support monitoring of:
- gaseous pollutants (CO₂, NOx, O₃, VOCs, BTEX, NH₃)
- atmospheric particulate matter and Black Carbon
- meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, precipitation)
In this context, low-cost sensor solutions are currently dedicated to atmospheric particulate matter, temperature, relative humidity.
ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Systems are custom-designed using commercial sensors and single-board computers, with engineering covering the full system architecture, including fluidic design (air inlets/outlets, sampling chambers, zero-air generators), custom electronics (power management, module switching, energy consumption control) and optional thermal regulation systems. This approach ensures maximum flexibility and modular integration.
Data acquisition frequency is configurable according to the application and data are stored locally (external USB storage) and also transmitted to a remote server managed by PROAMBIENTE.
The platforms are integrated with web-based services for:
- real-time data visualization (PC, tablet, smartphone)
- remote station control
- on-board implementation of data processing algorithms
This enables continuous, reliable monitoring and efficient data management.
INDOOR–OUTDOOR INTEGRATION AND DATA VALUE
Indoor and outdoor monitoring systems can be integrated to analyse the interaction between external pollution sources and indoor air quality. Combined data analysis enables:
- understanding of air infiltration and ventilation dynamics
- assessment of real human exposure
- support for mitigation and intervention strategies
Interested in developing an indoor or outdoor air quality monitoring system or an integrated strategy?
Contact us to develop a tailor-made air quality monitoring strategy aligned with your operational context.
