Five clean air innovations

From drones to sound cannons, discover innovations that aim to improve air quality

Air pollution is a silent but potent killer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 7 million premature deaths are associated with ambient and household air pollution each year. And the issue of poor air quality is so pervasive that 99 per cent of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants.

Each year, the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies aims to raise awareness about air pollution. This year’s theme was #TheAirWeShare, which placed a spotlight on the cross-border nature of air pollution. Following the event, which took place on 7th September, we are highlighting five of the best innovations that are making the air we breathe cleaner.

AN AIR QUALITY APP EMPOWERS USERS THROUGH EDUCATION

North Macedonian software engineer and eco-activist Gorjan Jovanovski founded air quality app AirCare to help users understand the air they breathe through education. What sets AirCare apart is its community section, which aims to educate users about the effects of air pollution – empowering them to take the next step by connecting them to local organisations and events. Further features include a World Pollution Map that provides users with an overview of the current air quality all around the globe with historical pollution data showing trends. Read more

SMARTER, CHEAPER INDUSTRIAL AIR MONITORING

Oizom, a smart air quality monitoring solutions company based in India, has released an industrial air quality monitoring device designed to target specific pollutants. The AQBot is compact and lightweight and can provide real-time data for more than 14 different pollutants, allowing factories to take quick action to mitigate negative effects. Read more

DRONES TRACK POLLUTION TO PROVIDE REAL-TIME AIR QUALITY DATA

Calling itself a Guardian of the Air, Peruvian startup qAIRa combines static and mobile monitoring for the most up-to-date air quality information. Constant data streams help urban planners and transport managers track the environmental effects of their work, while alerting area communities to the best times of day to be outside. With devices for monitoring indoor and outdoor air, as well as a system of drones for tracking larger areas and changing conditions, qAIRa brings diverse data together into a single platform that makes it easy to see, at a glance, any areas of concern. Read more

AN UNOBTRUSIVE SYSTEM CLEANS OUTDOOR AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution levels in India are among the highest in the world, threatening the country’s health and economy. For areas with high levels of air pollution, such as city centre streets and parking garages, industrial design studio VODD offers a new solution. The MinusDUST Air Pollution Capture system is a modular device similar in size to a refrigerator. It works quietly and is designed explicitly to be unobtrusive to look at. Read more

POLISH RESEARCHERS BLAST POLLUTION AWAY WITH SOUND

Scientists in Poland have developed a new method for battling the country’s particulate pollution. They are testing a new device in the town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, where a heavy smog descends each winter as residents fire up their heating systems and chimneys belch out thick smoke. This device is a sound cannon that uses sound waves to push the smog out of harm’s way. Read more

Curated by: Matthew Hempstead

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