OPUS RSE Deploys First Real‑Time Vehicle Emission Radar in Madrid

OPUS RSE, a Madrid‑based laboratory specializing in emission tele‑detection, has installed the first fixed radar for measuring vehicle exhaust gases on a high‑density road in Madrid. The system, called a Remote Sensing Device (RSD), emits infrared and ultraviolet light that crosses the road surface and analyses the scattered light to quantify up to seven pollutants – carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, ammonia and particulates – with a certified 10 % precision. Each passing vehicle receives up to 100 measurements in about half a second, and the device reads the licence plate to cross‑check data with the official DGT registration database. The radar is camouflaged in the pavement, operates without interrupting traffic, and feeds real‑time emission data to authorities for air‑quality monitoring and enforcement.

OPUS RSE’s technology is already deployed in 38 countries, performing more than 25 million measurements annually and reporting a 40 % yearly growth. The Madrid deployment marks a pioneering step for Spain’s environmental monitoring, offering a scalable tool to identify high‑emitting vehicles and support policies aimed at reducing urban air pollution.