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Dublin engages students in air quality and active travel
Primary school students have taken part in the Sensor Inspector, a citizen science programme focused on traffic monitoring, air quality and active travel.
At a glance
Who: Dublin City Council; Howth Road National School; St Columba’s National School; Harold’s Cross National School; Scoil Chaitríona Baggot Street; St Joseph’s Primary Fairview.
What: The council’s Active Travel Programme Office conducted a citizen science programme to monitor local air pollution and traffic, with a view to promoting active travel in collaboration with five primary schools.
Why: To engage students in areas like air quality, traffic and sustainability, encouraging them to contribute ideas that can help shape safer, healthier streets in their own communities.
Where: The Sensor Inspector programme culminated in a showcase event at Mansion House.
Dublin City Council’s Active Travel Programme Office, in collaboration with five primary schools across the city, has conducted a citizen science programme to monitor local air pollution and traffic, with a view to promoting active travel.
The programme engaged five primary schools, working with 3rd- to 6th-class students through a four-part workshop series. Participants used real-time data from sensors to investigate their local area, identify environmental challenges, and develop community-led solutions to promote walking and cycling.
Safer, cleaner travel
The Sensor Inspector programme culminated in a showcase event at the Mansion House, where students presented their findings and proposals for safer, cleaner travel to local leaders.
Speaking at the event, the lord mayor of Dublin, councillor Ray McAdam, said: “It is inspiring to see young people across Dublin engaging so thoughtfully with the challenges and opportunities of active travel.
“Data is the foundation of how we design a city that works for everyone. By engaging with these sensors, students are gaining insights on how data can help improve their local environments”
“Through the Sensor Inspector, students are not only learning about air quality, traffic and sustainability, but are contributing ideas that can help shape safer, healthier streets in their own communities. Empowering children to understand and influence how our city moves is an investment in Dublin’s future.”
A core element of the initiative is student ownership with participants managing sensors in their own classrooms and providing insights based on their local knowledge. According to the Active Travel Programme Office, this hands-on approach helped students understand how transport choices affect air quality and the wider environment.
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“The Sensor Inspector was designed to give students voice and ownership, moving beyond theory to become citizen scientists. It’s been inspiring to see their enthusiasm to take action in their community,” said Mariana Chihenseck Blanco, programme lead.
The workshops were delivered in collaboration with the Active Travel Programme Office, which is currently building the Active Travel Network. This project consists of high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure, designed to connect communities safely across Dublin.
“Through the Sensor Inspector, students are not only learning about air quality, traffic and sustainability, but are contributing ideas that can help shape safer, healthier streets in their own communities”
Other key programme partners were Academy of the Near Future (ANF), a smart cities education programme delivered by Dublin City Council, and the Connect Research Ireland Centre, headquartered at Trinity College Dublin.
The participating schools were Howth Road National School, St Columba’s National School, Harold’s Cross National School, Scoil Chaitríona Baggot Street and St Joseph’s Primary Fairview.
Celina Barrett, assistant chief executive mobility and public realm, Dublin City Council, said: “Data is the foundation of how we design a city that works for everyone. By engaging with these sensors, students are gaining insights on how data can help improve their local environments.”
Barrett added: “Ultimately, we are building an active travel network for the future users of our city – our children – ensuring they have a safe, sustainable, and healthy way to move through Dublin for generations to come.”
Dublin also recently held its 2026 Climate Action Week, which featured a city and county wide programme of events focused on connecting with people on climate action across the Dublin region. It highlighted ongoing local climate initiatives and featured a wide range of free events including workshops, talks, exhibitions, school programmes and community‑led activities focused on energy, transport, nature, circular economy, food systems and climate resilience.
air qualityclimate actionConnectivity & DataDublinEnergy & EnvironmentPedestrianisationSensorsurban space
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