[Creation and validation of the SPRING Internet site]

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Allergology
• Information Technology

Background:

• Pollen allergy affects millions across Europe, necessitating accurate forecasting.
• Existing pollen monitoring systems lacked comprehensive European coverage and real-time data accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Internet SPRING (System for Pollen Information and Forecasting) site.
• To provide accessible pollen concentration data and allergenic risk forecasts across Europe.
• To offer tailored services for allergy patients, scientists, and pharmaceutical firms.

Main Methods:

• Creation of the Internet SPRING site by a consortium of European pollen networks and SADIEL.
• Validation over four months, comparing site forecasts with weekly analyst-obtained real-world data.
• Zonal division of countries (e.g., six zones in France) with multiple analysis sites per zone.

Main Results:

• The SPRING site successfully provided pollen forecasts across Europe.
• Validation demonstrated a strong correlation between predicted and actual pollen data.
• The system facilitated daily information dissemination on pollen concentrations and allergenic risks.

Conclusions:

• The Internet SPRING site is a valuable tool for managing pollen allergy.
• The project successfully integrated European pollen monitoring networks.
• Expansion of the SPRING project is planned to include more European networks and enhanced user services.