A socially responsible approach
Through a core group of citizens curious about the air environment in which they live….
An initiative in the Toulouse region
Based on a network of air quality measurement sensors developed with the support of associations such as Ressources – Le Grenier in Castanet-Tolosan and Appel d’Air – Terres Toulousaines – CPIE in Toulouse, and integrated into the Sensor Community network, our citizens’ group in Castanet-Tolosan is committed to studying air quality locally and in the Toulouse region.
We like to enjoy an environment that’s close to a big city, yet close to the countryside.
That’s why we’re committed to preserving our environment by focusing on the air quality in our large conurbation …
An environment for strolling and moving .....
General view of the Toulouse area
The city of Toulouse lies on the edge of the Garonne plain, bordered to the east and south-east by gently rolling hills. The city is a focal point for a number of major traffic arteries, including five motorways, which connect to a relatively tight ring road around the city. The western part of the city is highly urbanised and industrialised, with its aeronautical sector among others. Road traffic is heavy both on the outskirts and in the city centre, which has retained its historic structure of narrow streets and main boulevards. As the winds are predominantly westerly or easterly, pollution from transport is a major factor in the deterioration of air quality. On the other hand, the conurbation has no major heavy industry or chemical plants that could exacerbate the situation.
Like many of France’s major cities, Toulouse is regulated by a low-emission zone, which prohibits the most polluting vehicles from travelling inside the ring road around the city. To mitigate the effects of the density of activity on the western section, the westernmost part of the ring road is closed to the most polluting vehicles, which must bypass the city via an outer ring.
Pollution levels on the city’s ring road are monitored by a network of official air quality measurement stations managed by ATMO Occitanie.
Our activities have focused on the installation of sensors to measure fine particles (PM 2.5 and PM 10, i.e. detection of particles of 2.5 microns and 10 microns) in our commune. At the same time, residents of Toulouse and its suburbs have set up a network of a few dozen sensors, which we are using to monitor an area 30 to 40 kilometres wide.
The sensors we use are an integral part of the global ‘Sensor Community’ network set up by the University of Stuttgart (Germany).
We also rely on a network of official sensors managed by Atmo Occitanie, which we regard as essential references for validating your measurements.
We therefore focus particularly on the Toulouse and Castanet-Tolosan area.
The area under consideration includes 38 sensors belonging to the ‘Sensor Community’ and 12 sensors belonging to the official air quality monitoring organisation, Atmo Occitanie.
Pollution levels on the city’s ring road are monitored by a network of official air quality measurement stations managed by ATMO Occitanie.
Sensor coverage for the entire Toulouse area
Castanet-Tolosan, the starting point for the initiative group, is located to the south-east of Toulouse and is partly spared the influence of the Toulouse conurbation. However, with the population on the outskirts of Toulouse increasing significantly as a result of the city’s attractiveness, concern about air quality is becoming an increasingly important issue for all citizens.
The aim is eventually to obtain a map of the air quality in the municipality in conjunction with the city council and wider public support. In particular, the deployment of sensors in public places in the municipality (schools, sports facilities, pedestrian zones, etc.) is of high interest that will enable to assess the impact of a growing population with its associated lifestyles.
Distribution of sensors in Castanet-Tolosan