Think of city streets as giant sponges that have become clogged and dirty. When it rains, the water picks up trash and chemicals and carries them straight into our rivers. This project creates a smart map and a set of natural filters, like urban wetlands, to catch and clean that water before it causes damage.
Cities struggle with 'diffuse pollution' where rain washes microplastics and chemicals from streets into water bodies. Current drainage systems cannot handle the increased intensity of rainfall caused by climate change.
A decision-support software for placing green infrastructure, specialized sensors for microplastics/PAHs, and a validated methodology for urban water runoff management.
If you are a consultancy dealing with outdated drainage systems — this project developed software for the strategic placement of green infrastructure that optimizes pollutant removal and prevents environmental risks.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with the difficulty of detecting microplastics in real-time — this project developed specialized sensors to detect microplastics and PAHs directly in the environment.
If you are a utility provider dealing with unpredictable pollution spikes during heavy rain — this project developed a risk-based methodology and decision-support tools to manage urban catchments across different climate conditions.
Based on available project data, no specific pricing or cost structures are mentioned as the project is funded by a HORIZON-RIA grant.
The methodology is being validated in 3 case studies (Santiago de Compostela, Aarhus, and Amman) to ensure it works across different climates and land uses before wider adoption.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not provided, though the project involves a consortium of 15 partners including 4 industry entities.
The project runs from 2022-06-01 to 2026-05-31, with specific performance descriptions for green infrastructure expected by month 36.
The project uses co-creation sessions with local boards to ensure the tools align with real-world needs and are easily adopted by urban water management actors.
The project is backed by a diverse 15-partner group across 8 countries, showing strong international validation. With a 27% industry ratio (4 companies), there is a clear bridge between academic research and commercial application, particularly through the involvement of 2 SMEs and 6 universities.
Contact ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION METALURGICA DEL NOROESTE (AIMEN) in Spain.
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for the urban runoff sensors and planning software.
