Unexpected Findings on the Role of Traffic in Fine Particulate Pollution
Urban air pollution remains a critical challenge across Europe. Recent results from the DEUS Pollutrack project, presented at the Kolloquium Luftqualität an Straßen 2025, provide new high-resolution insights into the complex relationship between traffic and air pollution in smaller urban areas.
By deploying over 80 mobile and stationary 5G IoT sensors in Teltow (Berlin region), the project delivered continuous, real-time data on both traffic flow and air quality. The main objective was to better understand how different vehicle classes and environmental factors interact to shape urban air quality—an aspect that has often been neglected outside of metropolitan hotspots.
A key finding: fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels show no significant correlation with traffic density. Instead, PM2.5 concentrations are primarily influenced by meteorological conditions—such as wind and humidity—as well as by local heating and industrial emissions. While stop-and-go traffic and congestion do contribute to higher particle values, the data demonstrate that smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow can noticeably reduce emissions.
In contrast, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is strongly correlated with traffic volume, especially during winter and periods of low humidity. Here, the study highlights the impact of stricter vehicle emission standards, the rise of e-mobility, and intelligent traffic management solutions—such as “green wave” traffic light coordination—on reducing urban NO₂ concentrations.
Based on these findings, the DEUS Pollutrack team recommends several measures for urban air quality improvement:
- Implementing intelligent, environment-driven traffic control
- Promoting e-mobility and strict enforcement of vehicle emission standards
- Prioritizing urban planning measures that avoid negative effects of city densification
- Targeted interventions, such as deploying street cleaning vehicles to reduce resuspended dust
The project’s modular and future-proof sensor platform ensures adaptability for next-generation urban monitoring.
NovelSense is Partner in the DEUS Consortium and responsible for the usage of Artificial Intelligence for the tracking of traffic and the visualization of DEUS data.
References & Further Information
Digitale Echtzeit-Umweltdaten für Verkehrssteuerung & Verkehrskonzeptionen unter Nutzung von Echtzeitkorrelationen zwischen Luftschadstoffen und Verkehrsteilnehmerklassen, Marc Nodorft et al, DEUS Pollutrack, Februar 2025, Kolloquium Luftqualität an Straßen 2025