1.16. Real-time Concentration Maps

We would like to have actual full real-time concentration maps. So, that you exactly have what information that you need, when are the spot times, which area is highly polluted and all that so, we would like to full information so that we can use the information in whichever way you want.

Having real-time concentration maps of air quality provides crucial information about pollution levels. This means being able to see the specific areas where pollution spikes occur and when they happen. By having access to this data instantly, authorities and individuals can make informed decisions about when to stay indoors or take preventative measures against health risks.

Think of real-time concentration maps like a weather app that tells you not just that it's going to rain today, but also when it's raining heavily and in which parts of town. If you knew flooding was likely in a specific area right now, you'd avoid that route and perhaps even advise others to do the same.

So, when you look at standards, this is the basis for when standards are seen in CPCB's website if you go and see you have a 24 hour average standard what it means is if I am exposed to a 24 hours standard concentration and this is the possible health effect.

Standards such as the 24-hour average for pollution limits are based on the idea of long-term measurement, meaning that they average out the levels over an entire day. The health effects that may arise from exposure depend on this averaged concentration, and if it exceeds a certain level, it can be harmful to health. However, this average does not capture short-term spikes in pollution that could occur at specific times.

Imagine you have a health tracker that tells you your average steps taken in a week. This average might show you that you're generally active, but it won't tell you about days when you barely moved or days when you ran a marathon. A similar thing happens with pollution averages; they can hide the dangerous spikes that may occur at different times.

If I have a tool that can measure round the clock, they’ll say somebody is outside I say between 2 and 3 in the afternoon don’t go outside, its concentrations are very high.

Traditional sampling methods often involve long averaging periods, meaning that they may miss the peak pollution levels which can occur suddenly. These methods may not provide the immediate feedback needed for effective public health advisories regarding short-term risks from pollution spikes.

Consider a traffic app that only tells you the average speed on a highway over a day. While this gives you an idea of how congested it was overall, it won't warn you when there is a sudden jam because of an accident. Similarly, old methods of measuring air quality might miss the moments when pollution levels are critically high.

So, as I said all of this will change because every year as we go there will be new developments in the protocols of measurement you are able to measure it for cheaper, therefore, a lot more deployment of PM sampling is done.

The future of air quality measurement is evolving with advancements in technology making it cheaper and easier to implement more comprehensive monitoring systems. This means that more locations can be surveyed more frequently, leading to improved data on air quality and better real-time maps for public use.

Think about smartphones; earlier only a few people had access to them due to cost and complexity. As technology advanced, they became affordable, widely used, and met the needs of the average person. In the same way, upcoming technologies will likely make real-time air quality monitoring devices accessible to more people, leading to better public health outcomes.

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