AI for the Global Goals | Google - AirQo

Learn more about AI for the Global Goals — a new initiative from Google.org to support projects that use AI to accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals #takeaction #worldstodolist

3 Good health and well-being, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, 13 Climate action
3 Good health and well-being, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, 13 Climate action
3 Good health and well-being, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, 13 Climate action
AirQo

Google.org Grantee

AirQo

Challenge

Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk, contributing to more than seven million deaths every year.

Air quality data is non-existent for many cities in Africa. Traditional air quality monitoring stations are expensive to set up and maintain, and incompatible with local infrastructure bottlenecks such as unreliable power and poor internet communication.

Approach

AirQo, founded in 2015 at Makerere University, builds low-cost air sensing devices that communicate over cellular infrastructure and are designed to withstand extreme heat and dust. Installed around cities in schools, neighborhoods and on motorbikes, they are powered by both electricity from the grid and solar to allow them to operate when power supplies are interrupted. The team uses cloud-based AI software to calibrate, analyze air particle data in real-time and predict local pollution. These insights are shared with the public and governments to drive awareness and action to improve air quality.

Results

AirQo has so far deployed 120 sensors, and developed a data analytics dashboard to support air quality monitoring. AirQo's monitoring network is advancing air quality management for city authorities and government agencies, facilitating university research, and empowering a growing network of individual changemakers dedicated to improving air quality at the community level.

In Uganda, the data and AI-powered insights raised the profile of air quality as a national issue, contributing to development of national air quality standards and Kampala city air quality action plans. The project is now expanding to Nairobi, Accra, Lagos and other African cities.

Website
AI for the Global Goals

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