Southampton City Council
Southampton City Council
2024 - on-going
Soton Airmap
A clean air routing web app helping residents find greener, healthier, more enjoyable walking and cycling routes in Southampton, reducing pollution exposure while encouraging active travel.
Airmap
Purpose
We're working with Southampton City Council to help residents discover healthier ways to move around their city. Soton Airmap uses machine learning air quality modelling, environmental quality data layers (noise, greenery, tranquillity), and innovative routing to guide people towards routes that reduce their pollution exposure while encouraging walking and cycling. Our vision is to make active travel the more attractive, enjoyable option for Southampton's communities.
Approach
Conducted goal-setting workshops with the SCC Air Quality team to align on project objectives and success measures
Developed machine learning air quality modelling at 20m spatial resolution, layered with environmental quality data (noise, greenery, water, tranquillity)
Tested three design themes through a comprehensive UX/UI design process to ensure the tool was intuitive and appealing
Ran beta testing with five local testers to refine functionality and user experience
Delivered community engagement workshops in Bevois and Coxford/Shirley, bringing together 14 local participants to shape the tool's direction
Conducted in-person walking comparisons measuring how mood and experience differ between Clean Air Routes and direct routes
Implemented bi-annual impact monitoring and reporting to track real-world outcomes
Results
The impact monitoring phase (September 2024 - July 2025) has demonstrated significant, measurable benefits for users and the city's air quality:
1,848 Clean Air Routes generated across Southampton
4,223 miles of active travel distance logged using the app
94% of local areas (161 of 170 LSOAs) have routes available
Clean Air Routes deliver substantial pollution reductions, compared to direct routes:
18% less NO2
28% less PM2.5
48% of trips include 20+ minutes in nature
56,604 minutes of total trip time spent with greenery
Users report significant wellbeing improvements:
64% felt happier taking Clean Air Routes (vs 0% on direct routes)
64% felt more relaxed on Clean Air Routes (vs 22% on direct routes)
Clean Air Routes were rated significantly more pleasant than direct routes (p < .001)
Quotes
"Tranquil City created the Soton Airmap that enables residents in Southampton to find clean air, more tranquil and greener routes around the city. Grant and the team completed this project to a very high standard and took on board feedback to make this tool user friendly and accessibility compliant. Working with Tranquil City, and their partner in this project Go Jauntly, was easy and the passion and energy they put into making this project successful was brilliant."
Amber Titchener, Air Quality Officer, Southampton City Council