Lasers, microcameras and artificial intelligence. It may sound like something from a science fiction film, but it is new technology designed to help the more than one million Danes who live with pollen allergies.

A new advanced pollen monitor has just been installed in Aarhus, and it may eventually make it possible to track pollen levels almost in real time. This could make pollen forecasts far more precise than they are today.

The new device, Poleno Jupiter, is about the size of a refrigerator. It automatically collects airborne particles, scans them with a laser, and takes images using microcameras. With the help of artificial intelligence, the system can then identify and count pollen.

The goal is to deliver much more detailed data on pollen levels—potentially hour by hour through an app that will be developed in collaboration with the Asthma-Allergy Denmark. Today, many pollen forecasts are based on daily measurements, but allergy sufferers often experience that their symptoms can change rapidly during the day.

The new installation in Aarhus is part of a larger research project led by Professor of Aerobiology Carsten Ambelas Skjøth from the Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University. The project explores how modern sensor technology and AI can improve pollen monitoring in Denmark.

“The installation in Aarhus went smoothly thanks to close cooperation with the university’s building management. The location also offers good opportunities for future expansions of the measuring equipment,” says Skjøth.

If the project succeeds, data from the measurements could eventually be integrated into digital solutions that make it easier for allergy sufferers to plan their daily activities and medication.

The project is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Read more and watch the video from TV2 Østjylland the article is in Danish:
https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2026-03-04-ny-maskine-skal-hjaelpe-en-sjettedel-af-befolkningen