A New Era of Citizen Participation in Mataró
The Mataró City Council, in collaboration with the TecnoCampus university centre, has launched an ambitious project called Bosc de Dades (Data Forest), which aims to transform the way citizens interact with their environment. This citizen science initiative allows residents, students, and teachers to build and manage open-source environmental sensors, turning them into active participants in monitoring air quality and urban noise.
Unlike the conventional approach where administrations or companies control technological infrastructures, Bosc de Dades promotes a model where citizens generate, interpret, and share data about their surroundings. The installed sensors not only measure crucial environmental indicators but also integrate their findings into Sensor.Community, an international network that allows these data to be visualised on a global map accessible to all.
This project not only has an environmental impact; it also translates into educational opportunities. Local schools will be able to work with real data during their science and technology classes thanks to a pedagogical kit that includes sensor kits and teaching materials aligned with the school curriculum. This will allow students to learn about applied science while actively contributing to the environmental well-being of their community.
To encourage citizen participation, several training sessions open to the public have been scheduled. The first will take place on May 27 at the Antoni Comas Library at 10 am, followed by another presentation on June 1 at the Pompeu Fabra Library at 5:30 pm. Additionally, on June 3, a specific session aimed at teachers will be held at the Mataró Centre for Pedagogical Resources.
Bosc de Dades has the fundamental support of the Barcelona Provincial Council and is part of the EDINT project (Data Spaces for Smart Urban Infrastructures) promoted by the FEMP. This collaboration highlights the importance of joint work between educational and governmental institutions to address contemporary urban challenges through innovative solutions.
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