Joint Air Pollution Monitoring Network for Central Switzerland

The six cantons located in central Switzerland (Lucerne, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Uri, Zug) began operating a joint air quality monitoring network in 1999. In a planning process, the offices for environmental protection and INFRAS established a concept (covering measurement, communication, PR, organisation, and financing) for the monitoring network. The new network has several advantages:

• Higher reliability of point measurements, due to a new classification of the monitoring area.
• Reduction of sample sites.
• PM10 measurements can be added without stretching the budget.
• Centralized data processing using standard software with publishing of data on the Internet.

Actual measurements of ambient air quality in central Switzerland

Later on the Canton Argovie joined the monitoring network.