The Luftlotse App for Munich’s Living Lab

The Luftlotse app is based on the concept of a conventional mobility management tool for private users, but with an extended focus on sustainable local offers, such as the option of booking vehicles from different mobility stations, public transport, carpooling, etc. It also includes an important function related to public health. Via a grid of monitors for air quality, users can check air pollution in their immediate surroundings. This information is also integrated into the app’s routing functions, so users can avoid areas with high degrees of pollution while cycling or walking.

The Luftlotse app has two main functions:

1. It enables users to plan their own trips via different means of transport and mobility. Among these are the newly established transport/mobility options on offer in the City of Munich’s ‘living lab’ (the Domagkpark district) like the Concierge Service (Neighbourhood Oriented Concierge Service - a service for parcel delivery and pick up) or booking shared vehicles at different mobility stations. It also offers mobility planning and routing in general throughout the whole city area of Munich. The app contains a number of interfaces to different providers, for example, for public transport, car sharing, etc.
2. A grid of air quality monitors is installed in the living lab. Measuring indicators for air quality like particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone are analysed.

App users can check the quality of the air around them with a glance at the app. Furthermore, information about air quality is integrated into the routing function. This means that users are then offered alternative routes, for walking and cycling, to areas where air pollution may be higher. Tracking functions make it possible to depict personal carbon footprints. The latter presents a gamification approach to raise awareness about the link between the user’s own mobility behaviour and environmental pollution.