Case studies – PUREPOLIS · 2026–2028
Where science
meets the city.
PUREPOLIS deploys its integrated toolkit across two pioneering case studies in France and Spain, and three follower cities across Europe, testing solutions in real urban environments to transform how cities fight pollution.
Follower cities
Follower cities
Follower cities
Living labs
Living labs
Two cities. Three follower cities
One shared vision.
01 — OUR CASE STUDIES
Nantes and Valencia were selected for their complementary pollution profiles, institutional maturity and existing smart-city infrastructure, making them ideal living laboratories for PUREPOLIS tools.
Nantes Métropole
677k
Inhabitants
24
Cities in the Métropole
2,530
Premature deaths/year (PM2.5)
Project focus
Producing evidence on cumulative air and noise pollution impacts on health, evaluating Zero Pollution Measures and linking them to co-benefits for climate and energy policies.
Zero Pollution Measures evaluated
- Two-way to one-way traffic conversion with bicycle lane (Boulevard Dalby)
- Pedestrianization of urban roads
- School streets — car-free zones at opening and closing times
Local partners: Nantes Métropole · Air Pays de la Loire · Acoucité
Valencia
830k
Inhabitants
2.5M
Metropolitan population
October ’24
Flood crisis
Project focus
Addressing microplastic and heavy metal contamination of soil and water following the October 2024 floods, focusing on southern districts and the Albufera Natural Park, using the One-Health approach.
Zero Pollution Measures evaluated
- Low Emission Zones (gradual rollout 2025—2028)
- Vehicle restriction zones in flood-affected areas
- Sustainable mobility corridors and cycle lane extensions
Local partner: València Innovation Capital
02 — FOLLOWER CITIES
Testing replicability across Europe.
Three follower cities evaluate the transferability of PUREPOLIS tools and methods to diverse urban contexts, validating scalability before broader European roll-out.
Germany · Capital city
Berlin
Germany’s capital and largest city, Berlin brings its experience with Zero Pollution Measures implemented over recent years, alongside a significant historical industrial legacy affecting water and soil quality. A hub for testing the transferability of air and noise pollution tools at metropolitan scale.
Germany · Bavaria
Augsburg
Augsburg brings exceptional long-term air quality data from the Bavarian Environment Agency stations, one HMGU station, and a dense low-cost sensor network. This rare longitudinal dataset makes Augsburg a powerhouse for testing the transferability of PUREPOLIS digital and modelling tools.
Poland · Silesian Voivodeship
Rybnik
With a deep-rooted history of coal mining, Rybnik presents one of Europe’s most complex combined pollution profiles. The city is a critical test case for applying PUREPOLIS tools to cumulative exposure from heavy industry, air quality degradation, and contaminated land — representing Eastern European urban realities.
Built to scale across Europe.
03 — Replication strategy
The PUREPOLIS Replication and Upscale Strategy (RUS) ensures findings go far beyond the five cities involved in the project.
01
Tailored city strategies
Each city receives a bespoke Dynamic Abatement Strategy (DAS) that maximises local strengths while addressing specific pollution challenges and governance contexts.
02
Transferability evaluation
The three follower cities actively evaluate how PUREPOLIS results can apply in new urban contexts, providing concrete evidence and guidance for replicability.
03
Replication handbook
A dedicated upscale and replication handbook (D5.4) will be produced for widespread use beyond the project’s lifespan, open to any European city.
04
European city networks
The three follower cities actively evaluate how PUREPOLIS results can apply in new urban contexts, providing concrete evidence and guidance for replicability.
Interested in replicating PUREPOLIS in your city?
Contact the team to explore collaboration opportunities.