Multidisciplinary GIANT consortium will explore indoor aerosol phenomena
As indoor air quality (IAQ) continues to be a growing concern, more research is needed to understand the role of different indoor and outdoor pollution sources and their impact on human health.
The three-year GIANT (Global trends in IAQ: Novel technologies, Competence and Business) project focuses on understanding the role of new emerging pollutants, such as ultrafine particles, black carbon, volatile organic compounds, and secondary aerosols in indoor and outdoor spaces. The overarching themes of the project include outdoor environments, building and construction technologies and design, as well as indoor environments.
"The strength of the GIANT consortium lies in its multidisciplinary expertise, which includes various research fields crucial for addressing the challenges posed by indoor air pollution. Together, we aim to lay the scientific groundwork necessary to meet the growing demands for advanced IAQ solutions," says Topi Rönkkö, professor of aerosol physics at Tampere University and leader of the research consortium.
Tampere University is responsible for investigating open questions regarding indoor air quality and future projections, as well as experimental research on the relationship between outdoor and indoor air quality.
“We wish to understand how the presence of, for instance, an airport or heavy-duty traffic contribute to indoor air quality and how to best measure that influence,” Rönkkö adds.
The GIANT project is partly funded by Business Finland with an overall budget of 5,7 million euros.
The research is conducted by Tampere University, Finnish Meteorological Institute, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, University of Helsinki, and University of Eastern Finland. The project consortium also includes cities, municipalities and companies specializing in instrumental development, aerosol measurements, air purification, ventilation, and data visualization. The project is coordinated by Tamlink Ltd.
Multidisciplinary scientific expertise brings competitive advantage
Strong international collaboration further enriches the project, bringing top-level global expertise and infrastructures to the project.
"While outdoor air quality has already gained significant attention, the importance and global business potential of indoor air quality cannot be understated. The GIANT project seeks to bridge this gap by exploring novel technologies, strategies and business concepts for indoor air quality monitoring and exposure mitigation," said Chief Funding Adviser Ilmari Absetz from Business Finland.
The project increases the understanding of future regulations and existing recommendations, such as the latest WHO Air Quality Guidelines. An important aspect is the expected new global markets created by the emerging regulations that high-level technology and service providers can utilize as forerunners.
“The WHO guidelines have been extended to include indoor air and new metrics have also been added, such as particle number concentration and black carbon. To respond to the new guidelines, we need both new research and new technology, as many measurement devices meant for outdoor air cannot be directly employed indoors,” clarifies aerosol physics postdoc Laura Salo from Tampere University.
Research activities within the GIANT project promise to drive innovation by aligning with the new WHO air quality guidelines. The market opportunities vary from air quality monitoring and management, energy-efficient ventilation, construction materials, to air purification, to name a few.
By harnessing sustainable and environmentally friendly high-tech solutions, the project aims to revolutionize IAQ management through the integration of IoT, AI, and digitalization.
Companies involved in the project with parallel company projects are Air0 Oy, Airmodus Oy, Cervi Talotekniikka Oy, Gasera Oy, Pegasor Oy, Realin Oy and Velco Oy. Airyn Technologies Oy, the city of Helsinki, the city of Tampere, the city of Vantaa, Dekati Oy, Entos Oy, e-Group Oy, Halton Oy, Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority HSY, Inspector Sec Oy (ISEC), and Lifa Air Oy are cooperation partners in the project.
Further information
Topi Rönkkö
+358 40 198 1019
topi.ronkko [at] tuni.fi
Laura Salo
+358 50 337 2801
laura.salo [at] tuni.fi
