A research group from the Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology at the University of Córdoba is working on the validation and improvement of technologies that allow real-time identification of biological particles present in the atmosphere.
As part of the European SYLVA project, led in Spain by Professor Carmen Galán Soldevilla, a team from the University of Córdoba is developing methods to automatically monitor pollen and fungal spores in the air. This represents a significant advancement over traditional methods, which do not provide real-time information and are labor-intensive.
The goal is to carry out a comparative study between instruments for automatic monitoring of biological particles in the air and the traditional tracking method, especially in areas with extreme climatic conditions. “Traditionally, we have used manual volumetric instruments for sampling, which requires extensive work to identify and count pollen using optical microscopy, leading to a delay in the information provided,” explains Galán.
This project addresses the growing demand for real-time information about the presence of bioaerosols, such as pollen and spores, in the atmosphere. The research team, in collaboration with other European countries including Finland, Switzerland, and Germany, is evaluating the effectiveness of automated systems in three locations with extreme weather conditions: Finnish Lapland (exposed to extreme cold), the Alps (exposed to cold and altitude-related pressure changes), and Andalusia, specifically Córdoba (exposed to heat and Saharan dust intrusions).
Researcher José Oteros highlights, “This technology is pioneering in southern Europe. In Córdoba, we have the first site in southern Europe—the first Mediterranean site—with this technology.” This makes the Córdoba center a reference point for the entire Mediterranean basin.
The automatic systems being evaluated use two main methods: identification through digital imaging and flow cytometry. “We have two paradigms: in one, a machine takes pictures and artificial intelligence identifies them; in the other, the particles are scanned in the air, passing one by one through a laser tunnel and sensors that characterize them in real time,” explains Oteros.
These advancements will have direct applications in various fields. In healthcare, they will provide immediate information to allergy sufferers, helping prevent symptoms. In agriculture and forest management, the data will help forecast yields and detect fungal diseases in crops such as olives and vineyards, enabling more precise and sustainable use of phytosanitary treatments. Additionally, this information serves as a valuable indicator of climate change, as it allows observation of changes in plant flowering patterns.
The SYLVA project is currently at its halfway point. During this first phase, the team has been conducting sampling with the automatic instruments to compare them with the traditional method and validate their effectiveness. “We’ve managed to get it working for our type of pollen,” notes Oteros.
One of the biggest challenges has been training the artificial intelligence systems. “We have to teach the machine,” Galán explains. “We’re creating a reference database because this is the first time this technology has been used in southern Europe,” the expert clarifies. This task involves meticulous fieldwork: collecting flowers, extracting pollen, and taking photographs to feed the machine learning algorithms.
The team has also had to deal with specific difficulties related to Córdoba’s climate. “In our case, it’s not just the heat, but also Saharan dust, which darkens the samples and makes identification harder,” says Galán. These observations are useful for manufacturers to adapt their equipment to the specific conditions of each region.
Unlike the traditional method, which requires days of manual work to process samples (a full-time person can manage barely two sampling sites during spring), these new systems will provide immediate and continuous information. Additionally, all generated data is being shared through a common European infrastructure accessible via the EBAS portal, and the reference databases are publicly available on the project’s website.
“Now that we are training these systems, all our Mediterranean colleagues will benefit,” Galán concludes, highlighting the broad impact this advancement will have for the entire region.