AirTOWN: A Mobile App for Healthier Urban Navigation

Thursday 13 March 2025


AirTOWN, a mobile app that combines real-time pollution data with personalized recommendations for points of interest, has taken a significant step towards making urban navigation healthier. By incorporating Air Quality Index (AQI) information and user preferences, this innovative system aims to help users make informed decisions about where they visit.


The app’s architecture is designed to balance three key factors: personalization, pollution levels, and proximity to the target location. When a user requests recommendations, the system first identifies nearby points of interest, then uses collaborative filtering to predict their preferences. A weighted re-ranking function adjusts these predictions based on AQI data from sensor networks in cities such as Bari, Italy, and Cork, UK.


To evaluate the effectiveness of AirTOWN, researchers conducted a simulation exercise in Bari, using synthetic AQI data due to limited sensor coverage. Two users were simulated, each with their own preferences and health sensitivities. The demonstration showed that adjusting the weighting parameter alpha can significantly impact the recommendation list, prioritizing either user preferences or AQI levels.


The results suggest that AirTOWN has the potential to promote healthier choices by providing personalized recommendations based on real-time air quality data. For instance, an elderly individual with increased sensitivity to air pollution may prefer recommendations that prioritize lower AQI levels. This adaptability is a key feature of the system, as it can accommodate individual health needs and preferences.


While AirTOWN has shown promise in its early stages, there are still challenges to overcome. One major concern is the need for widespread sensor coverage to provide accurate AQI data. The researchers acknowledge that interpolation techniques will be necessary in areas with limited sensors, which could impact the system’s accuracy.


Despite these limitations, AirTOWN represents an important step towards integrating health considerations into urban navigation. By combining personalized recommendations with real-time pollution data, this innovative app has the potential to improve public health and promote healthier lifestyles. As the technology continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how AirTOWN adapts to emerging challenges and opportunities in the field of environmental monitoring.


Cite this article: “AirTOWN: A Mobile App for Healthier Urban Navigation”, The Science Archive, 2025.


Mobile App, Air Pollution, Urban Navigation, Health Considerations, Personalized Recommendations, Real-Time Data, Sensor Networks, Aqi Levels, Health Sensitivities, Environmental Monitoring


Reference: Giuseppe Fasano, Yashar Deldjoo, Tommaso Di Noia, “AirTOWN: A Privacy-Preserving Mobile App for Real-time Pollution-Aware POI Suggestion” (2025).


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