Pigeon Backpacks Pollution, Birds With Backpacks

Surely they are winging it? Tiny backpacks strapped to pigeons are being used to monitor air pollution in London - Pigeons and pollution are both common blights in cities around the world, but a group of engineers in London are hoping the birds can help them tackle problems with air quality.

A technology company has revealed it is strapping pollution-monitoring backpacks onto ten pigeons in London to monitor air pollution over the next three days.

On Monday, the flock, nicknamed the Pigeon Air Patrol, were set loose from a rooftop in Brick Lane by pigeon fancier, Brian Woodhouse.

For three days, Londoners will be able to get live updates of the pollution where they are by tweeting their location to @PigeonAir.

Data from three of the pigeons, called Coco, Julius and Norbert, will then be used to instantly reply, telling them about the level of pollution in their area.

A live map is also being updated as the pigeons fly around, detailing the levels of pollution in different areas of the capital.

'Air pollution isn't sexy and people don't engage with it,' said Pierre Duquesnoy, creative director at DigitasLBi, who had the original idea.

'So the heart of our idea was to make air pollution more accessible and relevant to people.

'The Pigeon Air Patrol is a perfect example of how data combined with creative storytelling can raise awareness of a serious health and environmental issue.'

To develop the idea Mr Duquesnoy worked with Plume Labs, a technology company that helps consumers track and reduce their exposure to air pollution.

'Air pollution is a huge environmental health issue, killing 10,000 people every year in London alone,' said Romain Lacombe, chief executive office of Plume Labs.

'Putting air sensors on the back of pigeons goes beyond raising awareness of this problem and helps Londoners understand the impact of pollution in an accessible, tangible and immediate way.'

'Over the last 10 years Twitter has been used in ways that we would never have imagined,' said Helen Lawrence, head of creative agency development at Twitter.

And we're off! The first #PigeonAir patrol flies from Brick Lane, monitoring air pollution as we go! pic.twitter.com/W8KnyrxnCe

— Pigeon Air Patrol (@PigeonAir) March 14, 2016

'Rivers that Tweet when the water level rises, sharks that Tweet when they're swimming near shore and now pigeons that Tweet live pollution information.'

The pigeons used in the study are racing pigeons, who usually live four times longer than street pigeons because they're so well cared for.

The flock even has their own vet to double check they're always in peak health.

The high-tech backpacks they wear to monitor pollution are tiny and light as a feather.

The campaign only runs for three days, after which the birds will be able to return to their normal life.

The company hope the campaign will encourage Londoners to join the Air Patrol, by becoming beta testers for a wearable version of Plume Labs' air pollution measuring device.

‘We’re looking for 100 people to beta test our new pollution sensor, in partnership with Imperial College London,’ the website says.
‘If you’re a cyclist, runner, or pram pusher, who’d like to know what you’re breathing and how to beat pollution, join our programme testing a wearable version of our air pollution device.’