How To Check Air Quality Information On Google Maps

Google Maps App for iPhone and Android now includes a new Air Quality information on Google Maps that allows you to check air quality across the United States at any time.

That means you may check levels of pollen(AQI) or other allergens/pollutants in the air before you leave if you’re planning a trip and are sensitive to them. You’ll be able to observe if a city is smoggy or has extremely poor air quality.

A wildfire layer is also being added to Google Maps App in the United States, allowing you to understand how wildfires have affected the air in affected areas and avoid them. The EPA, Purple Air, and other ‘reliable government entities’ give data.

Air Quality Index

Despite the fact that clean air is essential for life on Earth, over 90% of the world’s population breathes dirty air.

For several years, Google has outfitted several of our Street view google maps vehicles with air pollution sensors to measure the air quality on our city streets on a street-by-street basis. We’ve taken over 500 million air measurements with partners all around the world.

Our goal is that cities will indeed be able to use this data to make better decisions and accelerate their efforts to become healthier and more sustainable. These metrics can help us see what we can’t see, so we can all breathe easier and live healthier lives.

How to check Air Quality Information on Google Maps?

• Visit Google Maps.
• In the upper-right corner, tap the box icon.
• To modify the feature on the Maps, click on Air Quality.
• To access full air quality data for the city/region, tap on any AQI bubble.

Air quality data from Purple Air quality, a low-cost sensor system which may provide a location – based viewpoint of circumstances, is also displayed on the maps.

• To add this air quality layer to their map, users must first touch the button at the top right corner of their phone’s screen, then select Air Quality under Map information.

Google Maps will zoom outward your current opinion to show pins all around the area visible on your screen as soon as you press on the Air Quality option or AQI index.

These pins are often among the most populous areas in your area. The color of these pins will change depending on how good or poor the air quality is, and tapping on one will reveal further information for that exact place.

Additional information is also available in the bottom sheet that appears when tapping on a location. This document will show you descriptions of what the impact of a certain AQI could be.

How else can check it? 

This new feature isn’t only available in the Google Maps app; you can also locate it by searching in Google. You can find the same precise information by searching for ‘Air quality around me’ or ‘Air quality in [US location name].’

Where is Google Maps AQI layer available?

The Air Quality Index layer is currently only accessible for locations in the United States. At this time, the feature is not available in any other country.

Anyone, from anywhere, can check it out on the app, but just the statistics for the United States will surface.

What devices can check it on?

The function has been rolled out to the Google Maps app for Android and iPhone, so if you have it installed and are in the US (or planning a trip to the US), you can check it out. You can also search for ‘Air Quality in [place name]’ using the Google app or Google Search on your web browser.

Purple Air data is also available on Nest displays and speakers, according to the article. As the wildfire season approaches, the data suggests that a wildfire layer is also available in the United States. Visitors can use this to see information about current fires in the area.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the PurpleAir network of atmospheric sensors detecting the amount of pollutants in the air provide data for the United States, which is presently the only country where this data is available.

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This service may expand internationally in the future, and mobile users may soon be able to check the local air quality in their area using data provided by local partners.

For all places in the United States, Google is using the US Air Quality Index, which ranges from 0 to 400+, with 0 being the cleanest air and anything above 400 falling into the critical category.

Google uses data from the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Board in India. The National AQI, which is maintained by the abovementioned government entities, updates the data. The Indian Air Quality Index (AQI) ranges from 0 to 500+.

When a government monitoring station has been unable to give data for a location or does not function in that area, Google turns to “non-regulatory partners” for information.

These aren’t official government monitoring stations, according to Google, but they do give sensor data that allows the business to generate an average value using the Now Cast algorithm.

The AQI of that area is then calculated by applying the US Environmental Protection Agency’s adjustment factor to that average.

Wind speed and direction, geography, smoke plumes, and other types of fine particle pollution can all alter the data, according to Google (known as SPM).

Conclusion

Google Maps will soon display you how excellent or poor your area’s air quality is. It will function similarly to how it does on Nest Hubs and Pixel phones.

The AQI for your location will be displayed on both the Android and iOS versions of Google Maps, so no matter what device you’re using, you’ll be able to see it.

“You’ll see the Air Quality Index (AQI), which is a measure of how healthy (or harmful) the air is, as well as outdoor activity recommendations, the date the information was last updated, and links to learn more,” Google stated.

People May Ask

Q- On Google Maps, what is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

A- You’ll see the Air Quality Index (AQI), which is a measure of how healthy (or bad) the air is, as well as outdoor activity recommendations, when the data was last updated, and links to learn more.

Q- What is PurpleAir and how do I use it?

• PurpleAir sensors must be connected to a WiFi network.
• Open the list of available WiFi networks on a WiFi enabled device.
• Connect to the “PurpleAir-xxxx” sensor network.
• You may receive a pop-up window or a message to sign into the network, depending on your operating system or device.

Q- Which statement is more accurate? PurpleAir or AirNow?

A- PurpleAir, in general, offers more localized, up-to-date, and less precise data than AirNow.

Q- Is PurpleAir’s sensor data reliable?

A- PurpleAir sensors, when corrected, reliably reflect Nowcast AQI categories 90% of the time, compared to uncorrected PurpleAir data, which is only accurate 75% of the time for the national data set of sensors collocated with regulatory-grade monitors.

Q- Why do air quality readings differ so much?

A- Different sources may update at different intervals. As a result, different sites may display different data, some of which is current and some of which is outdated. On the AirVisual app, the update time is provided under the air quality reading, and it’s also available on the US EPA’s (AirNow) website.