Air Aware - Transforming Air Quality Awareness Across London

The London Borough of Hackney, along with Tower Hamlets, City of London and Newham, required a software development company to create an interactive web application which would raise awareness of air quality issues and encourage behaviour change in areas with high levels of air pollution and socio-economic deprivation.

OpenKit exceeded all critical expectations with the successful delivery of the Air Aware web application. In addition, our AI services and solutions were put to use to integrate an AI chatbot assistant that could competently respond to user inquiries about air pollution.

Hackney Council (lead borough) along with City of London, Tower Hamlets and Newham (partner boroughs) have historically suffered some of the worst air pollution in the country, due to high levels of industrialisation. All partner boroughs are classed as AQMAs (Air Quality Management Areas) for exceeding one or more AQOs (Air Quality Objectives). Furthermore, the four boroughs of Hackney, City of London, Newham and Tower Hamlets are three of the most deprived authorities within England, according to the Office for National Statistics.

It has been shown that communities which have higher levels of socio-economic deprivation tend to be those which experience the highest levels of air pollution. Studies have equally found that communities with the highest levels of air pollution, deprivation, and clinically vulnerable groups tend to be those which are least engaged with previous Council initiatives to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution.

Following a growing interest in low air quality and its impacts on people’s health, a survey based on 254 residents showed that 4 in 5 residents of these London boroughs were concerned about the impact of air pollution on their health, but lacked more information on actual risks, the severity of pollution around them, and the resources available to help them.

These London boroughs voted on the need to provide an informative, engaging web application to disseminate information about air pollution and promote behavioural change in their residents. To reach the target audience, this app needed to have a simple, intuitive interface inclusive to all users, regardless of age, cultural background or disability. Since the main issue with air quality is a pervasive lack of information, this app would be instrumental in acting as a point of reference for users to discover the reality of air pollution, including its impacts on their health and their environment. The application would also foster personal engagement and sustained behavioural change, actively encouraging residents to learn more about air pollution, stay updated on local news, and attend their local air quality-related events.

Strategy and Planning

Our team attended an inception meeting with each borough to gain insight into the project requirements and target communities. We understood that we needed to develop a web application in a format that would be accessible and understood by people with limited understanding of both digital tools and air quality. OpenKit opted to use Agile software development methodologies throughout the project, which allowed for rapid prototyping, continuous refinement, and iterative improvements based on user feedback.

We developed an initial wireframe and design mockup using Figma, a leading collaborative design tool. We received useful feedback on the layout and presentation of the application and integrated it to further improve the web application prototype. This saved us time by rapidly improving the user interface without any actual development. The next iteration was a clickable prototype, also made using Figma, which enabled us to collaborate with the local communities, the partnering boroughs, and our internal team members in real time, streamlining the design process and ensuring that the web application’s UX was tailored to the needs of the target audience.

Taking into account all the feedback gathered from workshops, we proceeded to develop the pilot version of the Air Aware web application over a period of six months. The resulting UX design was intuitive, user-friendly, and effective in conveying the necessary information on air quality and pollution reduction techniques.

Following the conclusion of the Air Aware project, our dedication to maintaining the integrity, upkeep and functionality of the web application remains. We will continue to utilise our established monitoring systems to ensure that the tool and its associated services perform optimally and without interruption. We have implemented robust mechanisms to address and resolve any concerns that may emerge.

Our approach to service operations combines proactive monitoring with a responsive support system. With the tool’s current stability, our focus has shifted towards a more reactive model, allowing us to efficiently address issues as they occur. Council members and users are encouraged to report any technical difficulties or service disruptions directly to us through a dedicated support channel at support@openkit.co.uk.

Who we collaborated with: Four London Boroughs (Hackney, Newham, City of London, Tower Hamlets) DEFRA NHS