Google Maps online map service for iOS and Android users is now given a new feature, namely the Air Quality layer. This feature will be useful for users who are planning to go on a hike, cycling or just looking for fresh air in the midst of bad air conditions.
The new layer will display the Air Quality Index (AQI) directly onto the map using government data collected from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States (USA) to show how healthy the air is in general.
It also presents data collected from the PurpleAir sensor network to report minor conditions on the road surface. By clicking on the AQI readings scattered around Google Maps, users will be provided with more information about the health impacts of air quality, the time and source of the last reading, and links to learn more.
The PurpleAir sensor measures particulates using a laser particle counter. "Essentially you shine a laser through the air and then the particles in the air reflect the light and the detector picks up on that reflection," said PurpleAir founder Adrian Dybwad.
In 2020, his company's sensors became a popular way to track the smoke produced by wildfires on the West Coast. Last year, Google Maps added a layer of fire to track evolving threats.
Apart from PurpleAir, Breezometer also runs an air quality mapping business. Owners of the Cowboy e-bike have been relying on company data to avoid pollution on their rides since the start of last year.
The Breezometer uses complex models instead of physical sensors to achieve a claimed data resolution of up to five meters.