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Tethered hot air balloon flights in Paris: an innovation in monitoring air quality


A ten-minute tethered hot air balloon ride enables a quick and cheap turnaround for people to see Paris from a height just above the buildings of the city.


From the Parc Andre Citroen in the 15th arrondissement, the balloon flight is an up and down (no floating along and across the city) ride to an altitude of about 150 metres (500 feet)—about the height of a 12-storey building. The basket can hold about 30 people. Depending on weather, the flights occur between April and October at dawn and again shortly before dusk (these photos were taken at dusk). Therefore the exact time depends on the season.
The balloon is round and purportedly the largest balloon of this kind in the world, measuring 22 metres (72 feet) in diameter. It has fabric netting (with 9,000 knots). This can be seen in the photograph with the tethering device attached to the ground. The balloon is tied to the ground by a winch-controlled cable that lets the balloon rise to 150 metres and brings it down again. It pulls about 3 tons, but the cable can resist up to 44 tons. If the electrical winch fails to operate (it is operated by electricity), it has a backup diesel winch.
The rides began in 1999 for pre-Millennium celebrations, carrying about 50,000 people during the year up until 2000. After a period of inactivity, the balloon was re-launched in 2004. From 2008, the balloon also collected information on air quality. Last year, in 2012, the balloon was fitted with interior lights that changed colour to show the level of air pollution (green for clean and red for high levels).


 This new 2013 redesigned balloon took flight in spring and continues collecting air quality data while providing rides. The Observatoire Atmospherique Generali is a new partnership between the balloon’s designer Aerophile and an Italian insurance group called Generali. This balloon has 6,400 LED lights to enhance its indication of air quality. The old design was just an indicator of air quality, but this new design is more scientific and can detect extremely fine air particles.
Aerophile’s co-founder, Mr. Jerome Giacomoni, said that the new innovations make the balloon unique, and possibly the only one of its kind in the world.
The partnership with Generali, Aerophile and Paris will continue for five years to 2018.






http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/global-observer/in-paris-a-hot-air-balloon-to-boost-air-quality-awareness/9068
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