The City of Oslo has selected Scanmatic as the supplier of a new solution for data acquisition and data transmission from the municipality’s air quality monitoring stations. The delivery covers 16 monitoring stations and forms a central part of the infrastructure behind public air quality information in Norway.
The Agency for Urban Environment (Bymiljøetaten) in Oslo is responsible for an extensive network of monitoring stations measuring particulate matter (PM), NOx, O₃ and other gases in the urban environment. The data are used both for continuous public information and as a basis for environmental management, assessment of mitigation measures, and national reporting. The system will deliver data directly to the Norwegian Environment Agency’s national database Luftmålinger — without interruptions and in the correct format.
Robust Field Technology – Built for Continuous Operation
Scanmatic delivers a complete technical solution per station, consisting of an industrial datalogger, 4G/5G communication, the necessary interfaces to instruments, and secure connectivity to central systems. The solution is designed for high availability, with local data storage in the logger ensuring that no data are lost during temporary network outages. When connectivity is restored, data are automatically forwarded.
Key requirements from the City of Oslo include:
- high time resolution down to second values
- handling of multiple simultaneous instrument inputs
- long-term storage of raw data and status parameters
- remote control and possibilities for automation
- flexibility for instrument replacement and new measurement parameters
These are typical characteristics of Scanmatic’s measurement platforms, developed specifically for complex field installations with many different sensors and communication interfaces.
Direct Integration with Luftmålinger
A central part of the solution is that the dataloggers send data directly to the Norwegian Environment Agency’s REST API for Luftmålinger, in accordance with current specifications. This reduces complexity and risk by avoiding intermediary third-party systems, while also enabling easier troubleshooting and lower operational costs over time.
The system is open and well documented, giving the client access to software, configuration, and logger programs. The solution is based on standard hardware and open interfaces — an important procurement criterion to avoid proprietary lock-in.
Secure Communication and Municipal IT Adaptation
Data security has been a key requirement. The architecture established allows the City of Oslo secure remote access to stations and instruments, while also being prepared for future expansion — for example additional sensors or other supplementary equipment.
Operations, Preparedness and Local Presence
Continuity in data series is critical. The procurement therefore sets strict requirements for response times in case of faults, preparedness, and measures to prevent prolonged data interruptions. Scanmatic delivers a solution with extensive remote monitoring, local data buffering, and an organization with technicians in the region who can be deployed when needed.
The start-up phase is carried out station by station, with testing against Luftmålinger before full transition, minimizing downtime.
Part of Critical Environmental Infrastructure
With this delivery, Scanmatic contributes to ensuring that decision-makers, research communities, and citizens have access to reliable and continuous air quality data from the capital.
The project demonstrates how robust field technology, open system architecture, and secure communication can be combined into solutions designed for long lifetime, flexibility, and continued use — also beyond the contract period.
Photo: Åsne Løseth / Oslo Municipality.
