AQI Notifier

Inspiration

Living in Pakistan, especially in Lahore—a city with over 13 million residents—I've seen how bad air pollution can get. In November 2024, Lahore's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit an alarming 1,900 in some areas, far above safe levels. This kind of pollution can lead to serious health problems like asthma, lung infections, and heart issues. In fact, air pollution in Lahore can shorten life expectancy by up to seven years. Seeing how this affects my community inspired me to create an app that alerts users about air quality, so they can take steps to protect their health.

What it does

AQI Notifier is a web app that provides real-time air quality data from 10,500+ monitoring stations across 109+ countries. Users receive AQI forecasts for up to 10 locations via push notifications and get AI-based health recommendations. The app also features a dashboard with weekly AQI trends and city comparisons, helping users make informed decisions.

How we built it

Here are the key features of AQI Notifier:

Real-Time Air Quality Data: Provides up-to-date AQI readings using data from over 10,500 monitoring stations across more than 109 countries.
Personalized Notifications: Sends alerts when air quality reaches unhealthy levels, enabling users to take timely precautions.
Multi-City Monitoring: Allows users to track AQI levels in multiple cities, facilitating informed decisions about travel and outdoor activities.
Weekly AQI Dashboard: Features a dashboard that presents weekly air quality trends, offering insights into environmental changes.
User-Friendly Interface: Built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, the application offers an intuitive and responsive design for seamless navigation.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Developed using Dart.js and deployed on Vercel, ensuring consistent performance across various devices and platforms.

-AI-Based Health Recommendations: Uses AI to analyze AQI levels and provide personalized health suggestions, ensuring users take appropriate protective measures.

Challenges we ran into

One significant challenge we encountered was ensuring the accuracy of air quality data. Low-cost sensors, while affordable, often suffer from cross-sensitivities and environmental interferences, leading to potential inaccuracies. Addressing this required implementing effective calibration methods and data validation processes to maintain reliable monitoring.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud to have developed AQI Notifier, an application that provides real-time air quality information to users, enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and activities. By integrating data from over 10,500 monitoring stations across more than 109 countries, AQI Notifier offers comprehensive coverage and personalized notifications, empowering individuals to take proactive measures in response to air pollution levels.

What we learned

Developing AQI Notifier has been a journey of discovery. We've learned the critical importance of reliable data sources for accurate air quality readings, as well as the need to design user-friendly interfaces that effectively communicate complex information. Additionally, we've come to appreciate the value of community collaboration in enhancing the relevance and impact of air quality monitoring initiatives. These lessons have been instrumental in refining AQI Notifier to better serve our users.

What's next for AQI Notifier

To enhance AQI Notifier, we plan to:

Integrate IoT-Enabled Sensors: Deploy advanced IoT sensors for continuous, real-time air quality monitoring, providing users with precise data on pollutants like PM₂.₅, NO₂, and CO₂.
Implement AI-Driven Predictive Analytics: Utilize artificial intelligence to forecast air quality trends, enabling users to proactively plan activities based on anticipated pollution levels.
Expand Monitoring Network: Increase the number of monitoring devices to improve data accuracy and coverage, ensuring comprehensive air quality insights across various regions.