The tech giant introduced Air View+, which uses smart technology to provide helpful environmental data, on Wednesday. Air View+ offers air quality details that are crucial for government bodies in charge of monitoring the environment and planning cities. It helps people by showing air quality specifics right on Google Maps, the company said in a blog post.
This development is very important as Delhi’s air quality hit a severe level of 491 on the AQI scale recently. A thick layer of pollution covered the city, pushing authorities to limit vehicles, halt construction and switch schools to online.
Google’s blog mentions that Air View+ aims to help both officials and the public with precise air quality data. As India progresses rapidly, it’s essential to face challenges like air pollution, which negatively impacts city life and health systems.
Navi Mumbai air quality. (Image: Google)
Air pollution seriously harms city livability and strains healthcare, Google noted. While many know this, taking precise action was hard due to missing local air quality data.
To solve this, Air View+ now collaborates with local eco-tech companies to deliver useful air data, Google said, adding that this AI-driven tool models various data sets to offer real-time local air quality facts on Google Maps throughout India.
Air View+ partners with local groups, including sustainability startups and city officials, to provide updated air quality info. Companies like Aurassure and Respirer Living Sciences have set up air sensors in cities without previous monitoring infrastructure.
These sensors regularly check air quality factors like PM2.5, PM10, CO2 and humidity every minute. Positioned strategically in over 150 Indian cities, these devices aim to cover large populations effectively.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar air quality. (Image: Google)
With backing from researchers at IIT Delhi and IIT Hyderabad and support from climate groups, these sensors are carefully calibrated. Researchers and startups use Google AI to analyse this data, offering the public and planners useful insights, the company added.
Anyone can easily find the AQI on Google Maps by picking the Air Quality option on the Layer button or through the Weather widget, which shows air quality details for any chosen place.
This information is very important for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. It helps families take health steps like wearing N95 masks or staying indoors more often.
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