Research
We research almost all aspects of how people, climate and environment affect each other. The goal is a better quality of life for everyone.
The research covers the composition of the atmosphere, climate change, air quality, environmental contaminants, health effects, sustainable systems, circular economy and digitalisation. Together, it provides solutions to current challenges in society and business.
Atmosphere and climate
NILU has leading expertise in measuring and modelling atmospheric transport. Our researchers are internationally recognised and widely cited.
The atmosphere's content of pollution affects climate, health and the environment. To limit air pollution and climate change, we need to understand how the chemical and physical properties of the atmosphere are affected by natural and man-made emissions.
NILU started with studies of long-range pollution in the early 1970s. The research later led to an international convention on transboundary air pollutants (CLRTAP).
The European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) operates under the convention. Through the EMEP Chemical Coordinating Centre, NILU coordinates measurements of long-range air pollution across Europe.
Services in this field
Urban air quality
Advice and research-based knowledge about pollution sources and emissions, and measurement, monitoring and modelling of air quality.
Good air quality is very important for people's health and well-being. Most Norwegian cities have population growth and increased urbanisation, and this can lead to more pollution.
To meet the challenges, more knowledge is needed about how we ensure sustainable urban development and good air quality in the years to come.
NILU contributes to green social development with research, services and consultancy for public administration and business.
Services in this field
Environmental contaminants
Our laboratories provide tailored analysis and research services for environmental contaminants.
New chemicals are constantly being developed and put into use. A minority of these can pose a danger to people and the environment, and they are called environmental contaminants.
Research into these substances has always been important at NILU. The researchers can search for environmental contaminants in a wide variety of samples, including air, sludge, sediments, water and organisms.
We use new instrumentation and increasingly efficient methods, both in the laboratories at Kjeller and in the laboratory at the Framsenteret in Tromsø.
Services in this field
Environment and health
Research-based studies of exposure to and effects of pollution, for a more holistic understanding of risks to the environment and health.
Both people and ecosystems are affected by pollution in air, water and food. NILU researches how we are exposed to pollution on a daily basis, and what effects it can have.
To gain better knowledge of the effects of air pollution on health, the environment and materials, new and better methods are needed to calculate exposure to air pollution and environmental contaminants.
Services in this field
Environmental and climate solutions
Research and services that provide companies and authorities with sustainable solutions, with optimal use of resources and the least possible damage to health, the environment and the climate.
We offer environmental and carbon footprint assessment for products, processes and services with tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and environmental extended input-output analysis (EE-IO).
For authorities and decision-makers, NILU offers economic and system modelling to optimize political instruments. It includes cost-benefit analyses, strategies for a circular economy and assessments of the socio-economic consequences of environmental policy.
Digitalisation
Data services covering application development, big data processing, machine learning and visualisation.
Open data sources are growing rapidly, and the information is becoming more complex. Digitalisation automates and simplifies the use of data.
NILU has extensive experience with complex data structures, from collection to storage and visualization. With scalable systems and machine learning, we can automate processes and create new knowledge.
The latest in the field are inexpensive sensors that measure air quality, combined with machine learning that automatically calibrates and quality checks the measurements.
Environmental monitoring
Monitoring is the basis for all environmental research, and necessary to understand variations in the composition of the atmosphere, the climate system and the effects of climate change.
From advanced satellite measurements to simple rainfall samples in the Norwegian mountains: environmental monitoring is the foundation for knowledge about the state of the environment.
The results are also widely used in other issues, from health effects to the impact on ecosystems and changed biodiversity.
Services in this field
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We take on projects of all sizes for public authorities, businesses, the Research Council of Norway and the EU.