ACTRIS-UBB

Development of ACTRIS-UBB infrastructure with the aim of contributing to pan-European research on atmospheric composition and climate change

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The ACTRIS-UBB project is aimed at creating a state-of-the-art infrastructure dedicated to high-quality observation of short-lived atmospheric constituents. The infrastructure will be included in the pan-European Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS RI) and it will represent an infrastructure of major interest for ESA`s Earth Observation ground segment. The ACTRIS-UBB research infrastructure will include ground-based observation facilities, associated laboratories and data centers that contribute significantly to Earth observation activities.

Cod MySMIS: 126436

Project Implementation Period: 17.07.2020 – 31.12.2023

Project co-financed by the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014-2020

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

  • Increasing Romania’s participation in European environmental research infrastructures and other continental and global programs by improving the quality and quantity of data sets collected locally in Cluj-Napoca.
  • Increasing Romania’s participation in ESA programs by participating in Calibration and Validation Activities.
  • Increasing the level of expertise and involvement in frontier science: Cloud microphysics, aerosol cloud precipitation interactions, radiative forcing, climate risk assessment. The effects of air pollution on biodiversity, oxidative capacity of particles (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) to generate reactive oxygen species and associated health risks, investigation of factors that determine indoor air quality, determining the route of pollutants through the environment, etc.
  • Creating new products and services: issuing extreme air pollution warnings to decision-makers; ensuring transnational access to the ACTRIS-UBB research infrastructure and, through it, to high-performance research structures on the European road map and in other national and international networks; offering organizational and logistical support for various types of campaigns: intercomparison, testing, research, calibration, validation; generating and disseminating high quality environmental data; assessing air quality; performing laboratory analyses in the following fields: environment, agriculture, forestry; Developing best-practice guides for air quality assessment;  assistance in carrying out the technology transfer (technologies and products tested within the ACTRIS-UBB infrastructure) to operational services and SMEs with concerns in optoelectronics and environmental instrumentation; assistance for the establishment of spin-offs and the development of start-ups, based on the results transferred from ACTRIS-UBB.
  • Creating new employment opportunities and strengthening existing human resources within the Babeș-Bolyai University: the development of the research infrastructure proposed by ACTRIS-UBB implies research staff augmentation. Also, it creates opportunities for continuous skills development.
  • Strengthening the Babeș-Bolyai University’s position in Central and South-Eastern Europe, resulting in better regional cooperation and a better position to apply to and participate in national and HORIZON Europe projects. 

EXPECTED RESULTS

Establishing the Cluj Atmospheric Remote sensing Observatory (CARO)

CARO will be equipped with the necessary equipment that enables the continuous and long-term observations of aerosols and cloud properties and will be an active participant in the European environmental research infrastructure, ACTRIS-RI.

Acquiring state-of-the-art equipment in atmospheric research:

The new research laboratories equipped with in-situ and aerosols and clouds remote sensing equipment’s (solar and lunar photometer, microwave radiometer for measuring humidity and temperature profiles, Doppler wind LiDAR, ceilometer, cloud radar, Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS),

Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM).  Additionally, a mobile laboratory equipped with a LIDAR system and meteorological station, will be purchased.

Establishing a data center, equipped with high-performance IT systems

The equipment’s will be connected to the new Data Center (CARO DC), equipped with the necessary IT equipment in order to store and process the incoming data. Also, the CARO DC will be connected to the Babeș-Bolyai University’s existing HPC cluster.

FINANCING PROGRAM

The project is co-financed by the Competitiveness Operational Programme 2014-2020, Funding Priority A1 – Research, development and innovation supporting economic competitiveness and the development of businesses, Action 1.1.1: Large R&D infrastructures (A: investments for R&D departments of enterprises & B: Projects for innovative clusters).

The project was ranked first in the competition, its total value being 22,264,758.58 lei, of which the non-reimbursable financial assistance is 22,149,238.01 lei.

For detailed information about the other programs co-financed by the European Union, we invite you to visit www.fonduri-ue.ro

 

ACTRIS NETWORK

ACTRIS RI

ACTRIS-UBB will be one out of over 100 facilities that constitute at present the Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure Research Infrastructure (ACTRIS RI).

ACTRIS RO

At national level, ACTRIS-UBB will be part of the ACTRIS-RO consortium.

INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY

CONTACT

Project Manager ACTRIS-UBB

Assistant Professor Eng. Nicolae Ajtai, PhD.
nicolae.ajtai@ubbcluj.ro

Universitatea Babeș-Bolyai
Str. Mihail Kogălniceanu, nr. 1, 400084,
Cluj-Napoca, România

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