Prof. Ing. Daniel Micallef, alongside research group members Mr. Jeremy Sacco (RSOII and MPhil. student) and Mr. Sudarshan Babu Ramesh (RSOII), have been awarded the Technological Initiative Award at the Malta Intellectual Property Awards 2024 for their project, Aerodynamic, Pedestrian Level, Air Quality Control using Urban Vegetation Elements (APACHE). This prestigious award is recognized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The APACHE project, funded under Xjenza Malta (APACHE, SCP-2022-001), aims to revolutionize the implementation of barriers in urban environments that control pollutant concentrations in pedestrian areas by engineering their geometry and placement to favour aerodynamic flows that divert pollutants away from where it matters. Through advanced aerodynamic modeling and experimentation, the project offers a sustainable and effective solution to passively improving air quality at the pedestrian level.

This award not only recognizes the exceptional technological advancements of the APACHE team but also underscores the importance of innovation and science in tackling urban environmental challenges. Prof. Ing. Daniel Micallef is the head of department of the department of Environmental Design, Faculty for the Built Environment.

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