Pigeons and pollution are both common blights in cities around the world, but a group of engineers in London are hoping the birds can help them tackle problems with air quality.
对世界上许多城市来说，鸽子和污染问题都是常见的危害，但伦敦的一群工程师却希望能利用鸽子来帮助解决空气污染问题。
A technology company has revealed it is strapping pollution-monitoring backpacks onto ten pigeons in London to monitor air pollution over the next three days.
一家科技公司透露称，他们在十只鸽子背上绑上了污染监测器，在未来三天监测伦敦空气污染情况。
On Monday, the flock, nicknamed the Pigeon Air Patrol, were set loose from a rooftop in Brick Lane by pigeon fancier, Brian Woodhouse.
当地时间周一，鸽友布莱恩·伍德豪斯从布里克巷的屋顶放飞了这群被称为“空中巡逻鸽”的鸽子。
For three days, Londoners will be able to get live updates of the pollution where they are by tweeting their location to @PigeonAir.
此后三天，伦敦市民可以通过在推特上发布自己的位置并 @PigeonAir来了解该地实时更新的污染情况。
Data from three of the pigeons, called Coco, Julius and Norbert, will then be used to instantly reply, telling them about the level of pollution in their area.
名为可可、朱利叶斯和诺伯特的三只鸽子收集的数据被用来即时回复市民消息，告知市民所在地的污染水平。

A live map is also being updated as the pigeons fly around, detailing the levels of pollution in different areas of the capital.
随着鸽子飞行轨迹改变，生成的实时地图亦不断更新，详细显示了伦敦各地区的污染水平。
'Air pollution isn't sexy and people don't engage with it,' said Pierre Duquesnoy, creative director at DigitasLBi, who had the original idea.
“空气污染并没什么吸引力，人们也不去关注它，”乐必扬创意总监皮埃尔·迪凯努瓦说道。这个想法最初是他提出的。
'So the heart of our idea was to make air pollution more accessible and relevant to people.
“因此我们的核心想法是让人们更容易得悉空气污染情况，让空气污染与人们更加切身相关。”
'The Pigeon Air Patrol is a perfect example of how data combined with creative storytelling can raise awareness of a serious health and environmental issue.'
“把数据同新奇的宣传结合在一起能够增加人们对严重环境卫生问题的关注度。空中巡逻鸽就是一个很好的例子。”
To develop the idea Mr Duquesnoy worked with Plume Labs, a technology company that helps consumers track and reduce their exposure to air pollution.
为了发展这个构想，迪凯努瓦选择与科技公司Plume Labs合作。Plume Labs帮助其客户追踪并减少暴露在空气污染中的机会。
'Air pollution is a huge environmental health issue, killing 10,000 people every year in London alone,' said Romain Lacombe, chief executive office of Plume Labs.
“空气污染是一项重大的环境卫生问题。仅在伦敦，每年因空气污染而死亡的人数就超过1万，”Plume Labs首席执行官罗曼·拉科比说。
'Putting air sensors on the back of pigeons goes beyond raising awareness of this problem and helps Londoners understand the impact of pollution in an accessible, tangible and immediate way.'
“在鸽子背上安设空气监测器不仅会使人们更加关注这个问题，也能让伦敦市民用可行的方式更真切、更直观地意识到污染的影响。”
The pigeons used in the study are racing pigeons, who usually live four times longer than street pigeons because they're so well cared for.
研究所用鸽子均为赛鸽。由于受到良好养护，它们的寿命通常是街头普通鸽子的四倍长。
The flock even has their own vet to double check they're always in peak health.
这批鸽子甚至有自己的兽医以确保它们总是处于最佳健康状况。
The high-tech backpacks they wear to monitor pollution are tiny and light as a feather.
鸽子背的高科技污染检测器像羽毛一样又小又轻。
The campaign only runs for three days, after which the birds will be able to return to their normal life.
这项活动仅持续三天，在那之后鸽子们将回归正常生活。
The company hope the campaign will encourage Londoners to join the Air Patrol, by becoming beta testers for a wearable version of Plume Labs' air pollution measuring device.
Plume Labs公司希望此举能鼓励伦敦市民参加“空中巡逻”活动，成为该公司设计的可穿戴式空气污染检测器的测试员。
'We're looking for 100 people to beta test our new pollution sensor, in partnership with Imperial College London,' the website says.
“我们与帝国理工学院合作，寻找100人来测试我们的新污染监测器，”该网站表示。
'If you're a cyclist, runner, or pram pusher, who'd like to know what you're breathing and how to beat pollution, join our programme testing a wearable version of our air pollution device.'
“无论你是骑自行车、跑步还是推婴儿车，只要愿意了解你所呼吸的空气的质量以及如何战胜污染，那就加入我们的项目，测试一下我们研发的可穿戴式空气污染检测器。”