The LENS project is quite unique in its focus on L-Vehicles, but there are other projects addressing the health issues related to air and noise pollution. One such initiative is the NEMO project. Urban transport is a major contributor to air pollution and noise in European cities, and the NEMO project, was developed to address these issues with real-time solutions. NEMO brought together research institutes, companies, local governments and authorities from 11 Member States to develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions and noise in cities.
At the core of the NEMO approach is an autonomous remote sensing system integrated into existing toll and access systems. This system plays a crucial role in protecting environmental zones and other sensitive urban areas from high-emission vehicles. By identifying noisy and polluting vehicles in real time, the system provides vital information to transport operators and authorities, helping them to enforce environmental regulations more effectively. The versatility of the remote sensing system allows it to be integrated into both road and rail infrastructure, ensuring it can be widely deployed in different urban environments across Europe.
Remote-sensing in Florence
NEMO explored a wide range of approaches to reduce emissions and noise pollution, including road texture optimisation to reduce vehicle noise, green barriers to absorb noise and emissions, photocatalytic materials that break down pollutants in the presence of light, and microplastic collection in the asphalt layer’s pore network to prevent release into the environment. These solutions have been tested in several European cities to demonstrate their practical benefits and effectiveness. For rail transport, NEMO focused on improving noise detection of individual wagons, particularly those with noisy cast iron block brakes, to improve tolling or banning policies.
NEMO’s solutions were demonstrated in four cities, each representing different urban challenges: Madrid, tackling emissions and noise from road traffic; Valencia, focusing on pollution from ferry ports and rail freight; Florence, implementing solutions for road traffic; and Susteren, tackling noise and emissions from railway lines.
If you want to find out more about the project and the results achieved, please visit the NEMO Project Website.