A research team at Northern Arizona University (NAU) is enhancing vehicle pollution predictions by crowdsourcing data through the Hestia Traffic mobile app. Directed by professor Kevin Gurney, this app, designed for both manual and AI-enabled data collection, allows Arizonans to gather detailed information on vehicle types and road conditions. To promote participation, a monthlong competition is being launched for middle and high school students, running from October 20 to November 21. This initiative, part of the Southwest Urban Integrated Field Laboratory (SW-IFL) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, aims to engage students in community science and improve understanding of pollution and extreme heat. This program not only educates participants about environmental issues but also equips them with valuable technical skills for Arizona’s tech-driven workforce. Recognizing individual students and schools with awards, the competition encourages broad community involvement in data collection, aligning with global climate change efforts.
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