Combining hyperlocal monitoring and advanced data analytics to decode city-level pollution patterns, revealing granular insights into urban air quality hotspots

Delhi: Air pollution in India's urban centres is far more localised and variable than previously understood. By combining hyperlocal monitoring with advanced data analytics, a report released on Friday highlights critical pollution hotspots in 10 major cities, highlighting the need for precise, localised efforts to protect public health and improve urban air quality.

The report - Decoding Urban Air: Hyperlocal Insights into PM2.5 Pollution Across Indian Metropolises - by Respirer Living Sciences unveils the state of air quality presently outside the ambit of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ambient air quality monitoring network. The report includes location-specific average CPCB data for November 2024 across all 10 cities but goes a step further by integrating hyperlocal monitoring and analysis, providing granular insights into pollution hotspots that traditional systems may miss.

Leveraging hyperlocal data from over 150 sensors deployed across cities, Respirer combined air quality analysis from its AtlasAQ Platform using CPCB monitoring data and overlaid spatial insights from Google Maps Air Quality application programming interface (API). The report provides a 500x500 meter resolution of air quality trends. These innovative technologies revealed pollution patterns offering actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and citizens.

Google has partnered with Respirer on the AirView+ initiative to enhance air quality monitoring across India.

Key Findings:

●      Delhi breathed severe pollution levels, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 300 µg/m³ in hotspots like Anand Vihar and Jahangirpuri, driven by industrial emissions and vehicular congestion.

●      Mumbai recorded moderate pollution, with hotspots like Shivaji Nagar and Kandivali exceeding 100 µg/m³ due to construction dust and waste processing.

●      Kolkata and Patna showed significant seasonal impacts, with crop residue burning and older transport infrastructure contributing to elevated PM2.5 levels in Sealdah and Samanpura.

●      Bengaluru and Chennai reported relatively cleaner air but localised spikes in areas like Peenya and Manali due to industrial activities and traffic corridors.

●      Cities such as Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh revealed critical hotspots tied to rapid urbanisation or construction, insufficient green buffers, and industrial activities.

“Hyperlocal air quality monitoring is a game-changer for urban India. It bridges the gaps left by traditional systems, offering real-time, street-level insights into pollution patterns. This granularity empowers targeted interventions, making it an important tool in our fight against air pollution,” said Ronak Sutaria, Founder and CEO, Respirer Living Sciences, adding that such insights are valuable in identifying unmonitored areas and addressing previously invisible pollution challenges.

The report outlines actionable recommendations to address urban air pollution, including implementing targeted emission controls and expanding low-emission zones; integrating urban forestry and green infrastructure to act as natural pollution buffers, and promoting public awareness through real-time data tools and educational campaigns.

"Hyperlocal air quality monitoring bridges the gap between traditional broad-scale assessments and the localised realities of air pollution. By providing fine-grained, real-time data, this approach enables us to pinpoint pollution sources with accuracy and design targeted interventions that can improve public health outcomes. It is commendable that organisations such as Respirer are leveraging innovative technologies such as advanced sensors and data analytics to address this urgent need, offering actionable insights towards pollution abatement,” said Professor Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Chair, Steering Committee, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and Dean, Kotak School of Sustainability, IIT Kanpur.