In recent years, more local authorities have been keen to introduce Clean Air Zones. Here, purposeful action is taken in targeted high-polluting areas to improve air quality to benefit the health and well-being of city dwellers as well as increasing their desirability to live, work and spend leisure time in urban areas.
Ultimately, 'Clear Air Zones’ need to support city growth and a smooth transition to low emission economy for better sustainable living.
How do local authorities create 'Clean Air Zones'?
First of all, a regional authority needs to address all sources and levels of gases and other harmful pollutants such as Nitrogen Dioxide that gather when vehicles idle in traffic hotspots.
Once known, action taken to readdress issues and imbalances with air quality needs to quietly, affordably and seamlessly integrate without harming a city's ambition and vision for future growth.
There are specific criteria that a regional authority must comply with to transition to a low emission economy. This includes hitting pre-determined emission standards, raising awareness and understanding among local communities, improving the business environment and optimising traffic flow.
On paper, it sounds like the dirty air problem in a city is hard to fix. But in reality, it doesn't have to be.
Collaborative Partnerships
We deeply understand how unmanaged traffic flow and poor air quality go hand in hand. It's a complex issue that Urban Traffic Managers, Environment Officers and Council Leaders have to manage well in the eyes of the public, council leaders and central government.
To date, Now Wireless is allowing twenty local authorities take immediate action to improve air quality as part of their quest to create a low emission economy. Wolverhampton City Council is one such area where our sensors, AI algorithms and powerful data reporting monitors and manages air quality in real-time.
Our advanced digital system feeds data picked up by sensors into our AI which assimilates, and analyses gas emissions, journey times, types of vehicles, travel time (time of day), and length of a road user trip.
Consequently, this level of analysis outputs dynamic information that empowers UTMC to take immediate action, including but not limited to, diverting traffic away from congested areas, using intelligent light sequencing to prevent pollution buildups, and recommending alternative routes to drivers via SMS text messaging.
What's more significant is that our system can predict pollution levels an hour in advance. Machine learning within our AI analyses data from connected sources; CCTV cameras, pollution sensors, historical weather patterns, and passing digital signatures within one day of a pollution monitor being installed.
How does this help?
Essentially the unique predictive capabilities of Now Wireless AI means a problem is resolved before it becomes a pollution or traffic issue. Our sensors are very accurate, picking up information in bad weather, low-light conditions and at night-time. We can therefore give you a relevant, completely workable and highly affordable solution. Install is frictionless, the public is not inconvenienced and the equipment easy to maintain.
It is precisely these benefits that attracted the eye of Wolverhampton City Councillor and Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, Steve Evans. By using Now Wireless, he feels he is at 'the cutting edge of technology where he is 'not waiting for pollution levels to become a problem to then be told to we've got to do something about it'. Instead, he encourages his regional authority to take a proactive approach to creating a ‘Clean Air Zone’.
Listen to his interview with transport correspondent Sean Daly and Now Wireless CEO Brian Jackson on the "World at One’ aired 27th September 2021 at 1pm. BBC World at One programme
Why choose Now Wireless
As we research, develop and engineer our solutions, we are continuously at the leading edge of AI and product development. Our technology is seen as the best in the traffic signalling industry, and so many highway agencies and solution providers choose Now Wireless to fulfil key elements of their turn-key solutions.
We also sell our technology directly to councils, regional authorities and central government. We choose not to lock you into our specific brand technology or encourage you to do a total replacement of all existing kit.
Instead, our philosophy is to advocate flexible integration that enables city councillors, Urban Traffic Control Managers and other key policymakers deliver a their master plan. We want you to take an evolutionary path by integrating our plug and play hardware and AI into your existing transport design.
This approach allows you to take advantage of new cutting edge technology using a methodology that creates space and opportunity for fine-tuning using real-time data and continual, gradual upgrades in line with AI advancements. Also, we are not 'eye-watering' expensive as 'going green' shouldn't be out of reach for any regional authority, even those with significant budget constraints.
Would you benefit?
If you are a local authority that can benefit from our "smart city” cleaner air digital system, contact Paul Hudson who will be happy to talk too you. Reach him on 01883 621 100 or via email at paul@nowwireless.com.
