As part of the MUSA project, the University of Milano-Bicocca has launched an important initiative to redevelop Piazza della Scienza, with particular attention to air quality during the repaving works. This project involved an environmental monitoring campaign aimed at assessing the impact of construction activities on atmospheric particulate matter and nanoparticles present in the area.
Pietro Maroni, a PhD student at the University of Milano-Bicocca, discusses this in an interview.
Before the works began, Maroni explains, an air sampling campaign was conducted to establish a baseline of pollution levels, followed by a second monitoring during the course of the works. The parameters analyzed included particulate matter (PM) and nanoparticles. Both sophisticated and costly scientific reference instruments were used, as well as more economical and portable sensors, which are currently being validated for more flexible future applications.
Preliminary results showed a significant increase in particulate matter, especially in outdoor areas, caused by construction activities. Inside nearby buildings, there was an increase in the finer fraction of particulate matter, which is more capable of infiltrating between walls and crevices. This phenomenon was less pronounced outdoors, where larger particles tended to increase during the construction phase.
Looking to the future, the project plans further monitoring once the redevelopment works are completed to assess the overall impact. The planting of specific vegetation species is also planned, which should help improve air quality by capturing particulate matter. Another step will be the installation of fixed monitoring instruments to ensure continuous environmental control.
