Build & sustain an observatory
A set of practical, co-created toolkits to help you build inclusive, resilient citizen observatories ā from engaging diverse communities and managing participation dynamics to enabling citizen-led action and robust environmental monitoring.
Browse all toolkits
5 toolkitsPractical guides and resources for Citizen Observatories
ToolkitCitizen-Led Action Toolkit
The Citizen-Led Action Toolkit empowers communities to take meaningful action in environmental protection through co-creation and collaboration. Designed to support citizen groups within Citizen Observatories, it provides practical tools and resources to help plan, organize, and deliver impactful, citizen-driven initiatives. The toolkit fosters creativity by encouraging partnerships with artists and makers, expanding outreach and engagement through creative networks. It also supports communities in building momentum, sustaining participation, and evaluating the impact of their actions, ensuring efforts lead to positive, lasting change.
ToolkitCreating Successful and Sustainable COs Toolkit
The Creating Successful and Sustainable COs Toolkit offers clear and hands-on guidance for setting up and running Citizen Observatories. Building on the WeObserve Cookbook, it gives step-by-step support to help practitioners understand what a Citizen Observatory is, create and manage one effectively, and work with data to generate meaningful insights. The toolkit also shares advice on communicating results, achieving impact, and ensuring sustainability beyond the funding period. Designed to be accessible to all, it empowers practitioners to establish inclusive, impactful, and long-lasting Citizen Observatories.
ToolkitEnvironmental Monitoring Toolkit
The Environmental Monitoring Toolkit provides practical guidance for implementing low-cost, sensor-based environmental monitoring. It helps reduce technological barriers by offering step-by-step support on selecting, setting up, and managing sensors, ensuring data quality, and making data usable for decision-making. Designed to be accessible to all, the toolkit empowers more inclusive and trustworthy citizen-generated data for environmental action.
ToolkitLeave-No-One-Behind Toolkit
The Leave-No-One-Behind (LNOB) Toolkit is a practical resource for Citizen Observatories aiming to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in citizen science and community-driven environmental monitoring. Developed from best practices across Europe, it helps projects engage with marginalized and underserved communities, connect with hard-to-reach groups, and ensure ethical and inclusive participation. The toolkit encourages observatories to assess who may be excluded, promote environmental justice, and build truly representative, locally relevant initiatives that reflect the needs of all stakeholders.
ToolkitParticipation Dynamics Toolkit
Supports building strong, trust-based partnerships within your observatory. It provides practical tools to manage conflicts, enhance collaboration, and keep stakeholders aligned around shared goals and effective data use.
Workshops & videos
33 itemsRecordings and resources from CitiObs training sessions and knowledge-sharing events
Workshop18/01/20241st Mutual Learning Workshop in Athens
In January 2024, Athen's first Mutual Learning Workshop took place. Athens is one of the project's 5 Frontrunner cities.
Workshop03/11/20231st Mutual Learning Workshop in Barcelona
In November, Barcelona's first Mutual Learning Workshop took place. Barcelona is one of the project's 5 Frontrunner cities.
Workshop08/12/20231st Mutual Learning Workshop in Dublin
In December 2023, Dublin's first Mutual Learning Workshop took place. Dublin is one of the project's 5 Frontrunner cities.
Workshop08/11/20231st Mutual Learning Workshop in Kristiansand
In November, Kristiansand's first Mutual Learning Workshop took place. Kristiansand is one of the project's 5 Frontrunner cities.
Workshop08/11/20231st Mutual Learning Workshop in Rotterdam
In November, Rotterdam's first Mutual Learning Workshop took place. Rotterdam is one of the project's 5 Frontrunner cities.
Workshop recording10/03/2025Alliance Cases Cluster Meeting
In March 2025, the CitiObs consortium held the Alliance Cases Cluster meeting, bringing together the 30 Alliance Cases and the 5 Frontrunner cases to cluster them in 6 clusters.
Workshop recording20/01/2025Alliance Cases Onboarding Workshop
In January 2025, the CitiObs consortium held the Alliance Cases Onboarding Workshop, bringing together 30 selected Citizen Observatories and initiatives to collaboratively kickstart their engagement with the project.
Workshop recording24-25/09/2026CitiObs Exchange Day | Marseille
This Roadshow brought together French-speaking CitiObs cases, citizens, researchers and public authorities to exchange experiences of participatory environmental monitoring. The Exchange Day on 24 September combined a roundtable on citizen participation in public action, case presentations and in-person World CafƩ discussions on data, inclusion and air-quality sensing. An optional maker morning on 25 September at FabLab Marseille included sensor demonstrations by AirCarto and a mapping exercise from the Leave No One Behind Toolkit.- Video
CitiObs Hackathon: Developing a Decision Support System (DSS)
From February 11-14, 2025, in Thessaloniki, CitiObs partners came together for an intensive hackathon focused on developing a Decision Support System (DSS) for real-time environmental monitoring. 
Workshop17/09/2026Citizen Observatory Sustainability Roadshow
This online Roadshow examined how Citizen Observatories can sustain their activities and impact beyond individual projects. The session introduced a non-profit business model adapted for Citizen Observatories and used a shared Miro board to explore partners, activities, resources and social value. The discussion considered sustainability as more than funding, including reliable data, institutional support and collaboration with other initiatives.
Workshop01/07/2026Citizen Science & Air Quality Roadshow | Lagos
This Roadshow was planned to bring together African Citizen Observatories, researchers and community initiatives working on air quality at the University of Lagos. Its programme combined presentations of CitiObs and Citizen Science for Air Quality (CSAQ) resources with case presentations, stakeholder mapping and technical-capability mapping. The planned peer exchange focused on adapting monitoring guidance to African contexts and identifying opportunities for collaboration through the CSAQ Community of Practice.
Workshop recording30/04/2025Community-led Creative Action Workhop
In April 2025, the CitiObs project hosted the Community-led Creative Action Workshop, bringing together engaged participants to explore how to identify and engage creatives in their communities to co-create local, citizen-driven actions.- Video
Empowering Citizens Through Air Quality Monitoring
This video highlights the use of low-cost sensors, mobile wearables, high-resolution mapping tools, and Decision Support systems to help communities monitor and respond to environmental conditions. 
Workshop02/09/2026Energy and Action Roadshow | Rotterdam
Hosted by the Luchtclub at Het LAB in Rotterdam, this Roadshow brought together Citizen Observatories and representatives of public authorities to discuss sustaining participation and turning citizen-generated data into action. The Luchtclub shared its experience, followed by small-group discussions using the CitiObs Energy Diagnosis Chart and āFrom Energy to Actionā worksheet. Participants explored motivation, team relationships and ways to connect their initiatives with policy-makers.
Workshop recording2-3/07/2026Environmental Monitoring Toolkit Roadshow
This online Roadshow explored the CitiObs Environmental Monitoring Toolkit and Knowledge Platform through a practical walkthrough and presentations from AirLimnos in Greece, Viadukaduk in Belgium and ClujCitySense in Romania. Participants exchanged experiences in breakout groups on planning monitoring campaigns and choosing sensors, managing and checking data, and analysing and communicating results. The discussions also gathered feedback on the tools and support needed by Citizen Observatories.
Workshop recording20/11/2025Environmental Monitoring Toolkit Workshop
In October 2025, the CitiObs held the Environmental Monitoring Toolkit, a hands-on online session focused on making sense of citizen-generated environmental data. Participants we introduced to open tools suchs as VirtualAir, VALAIR, Pathon data recipes, the "Analyse Together" web tool, and methods for working with wearables and creative data visualisation.
Workshop recording4/08/2025European Policy Workshop
In June 2025, the CitiObs held the European Policy Workshop: Citizen Science & Air Quality, bringing together local, regional, and EU-level actors to explore how citizen science and community-generated data can shape the future of air quality monitoring and support the implementation of the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive.
Workshop recording16/04/2026Fellows Onboarding Workshop
On March 9, the CitiObs project hosted the Fellow Onboarding Workshop, welcoming new CitiObs Fellows and marking the start of their journey within the project. The session brought participants together to connect, learn, and explore how they can contribute to advancing Citizen Observatories globally.- Workshop recording26/05/2025
Improving Participation Dynamics in Citizen Observatories Workshop
In May 2025, the CitiObs project hosted the Online Workshop: Improving Participation Dynamics in Citizen Observatories, bringing together engaged participants to explore how to enhance stakeholder collaboration and long-term engagement within Citizen Observatories. 
Workshop recording23/06/2025Integrating Citizen Science Data into Official Statistics for Air Quality Monitoring Workshop
In June 2025, the webinar Integrating Citizen Science Data into Official Statistics for Air Quality Monitoring explored how citizen-generated data can help address air quality challenges. Jointly organised by the Collaborative on Citizen Data, Citizen Science Global Partnership, CODATA, and CitiObs, the session focused on closing data gaps and integrating community insights into official statistics. Watch it on UNStats YouTube Channel- Video
Introducing CitiObs – Featured at GEO Global Forum 2025
This video presents an overview of the CitiObs project, which was featured at the European Union booth during the upcoming GEO Global Forum exhibition in Rome, Italy, from 5 to 9 May 2025, alongside other leading EU-funded initiatives in the field of Earth observation and environmental data. - Video
Introduction to the CitiObs project
Welcome to CitiObs! Discover how CitiObs is transforming citizen science by empowering communities to monitor air quality, engage in environmental decision-making, and contribute to real-world solutions. - Video
Learning Together ā What Citizen Observatories Teach Us
In this video, we reflect on the lessons learned through CitiObs, showcasing how Citizen Observatories collaborate across borders to share knowledge, develop best practices, and influence policy. 
Workshop15/04/2026Leave No One Behind Roadshow | Eindhoven
Representatives of Dutch CitiObs cases met in Eindhoven to share experiences and explore inclusion in Citizen Observatories. Using the Leave No One Behind Toolkitās āPainted Layers on the Mapā activity, participants marked local environmental issues, affected communities and gaps in participation. Small-group discussions considered how to reach people beyond those already involved- Workshop recording23/06/2025
Leave No One Behind Toolkit Workshop
In June 2025, the CitiObs project hosted the Online Workshop: Leave No One Behind Toolkit, focusing on how to support equity, diversity, and inclusion in citizen sciense initiatives. 
Workshop recording27/02/2025Setting Up a Successful Monitoring Campaign Workshop 1
In February 2025, the CitiObs consortium held the first Environmental Monitoring Workshop: Setting Up a Successful Monitoring Campaign, with our Frontrunner Cases.
Workshop recording12/03/2025Setting Up a Successful Monitoring Campaign Workshop 2
In March 2025, the CitiObs consortium held the second Environmental Monitoring Workshop: Setting Up a Successful Monitoring Campaign, with our Frontrunner Cases.- Video
Smart Citizen Sensors
This video was filmed at IAAC ā Advanced Architecture Barcelona showcasing the Smart Citizen sensors and their role in promoting low-cost, open-source environmental monitoring. Through the Smart Citizen initiative, IAAC empowers communities and researchers to better understand their urban environments and contribute to data-driven, sustainable cities. - Video
The Citizen-Led Action Toolkit Guide
An introduction to the CitiObs Citizen-Led Action Toolkit, showing how communities can move from environmental awareness to concrete action. It covers idea development, collaboration with creatives, planning, risk management and reflection on impact. - Video
The Creating Sustainable COs Toolkit Guide
A guide to creating and sustaining successful Citizen Observatories, from early co-design and community building to long-term growth and sustainability. It explores the different stages of community development as well as funding, business models and collaboration for lasting impact. - Video
The Environmental Monitoring Toolkit Guide
An introduction to the CitiObs Environmental Monitoring Toolkit, covering the main steps involved in community-based environmental monitoring. It explains sensing options, metadata, data quality, open standards and platforms, data integration, and how observations can be transformed into analysis- and decision-ready information. - Video
The Leave-No-One-Behind Toolkit Guide
An introduction to the CitiObs Leave-No-One-Behind Toolkit and its approach to making Citizen Observatories more inclusive and equitable. It explores barriers to participation, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and practical ways to involve groups that are often underrepresented in citizen science. - Video
The Participation Dynamics Toolkit Guide
An overview of the CitiObs Participation Dynamics Toolkit, focused on building strong and inclusive relationships within Citizen Observatories. It introduces practical approaches for strengthening trust, social cohesion, stakeholder engagement, transparency and the uptake of citizen-generated data.