IIT Kanpur developed advanced technologies for monitoring air quality

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 06 November 2023, 02:48:22 PM IST

IIT Kanpur developed advanced technologies for monitoring air quality
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) has recently launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) called ATMAN (Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Air-quality iNdicators). The CoE aims to support the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative of the government, which focuses on developing indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities to improve air quality in urban and rural areas of India.
According to an official release, the CoE ATMAN aligns with the vision of the Principal Scientific Advisor of India, aiming to translate sustainable technologies and business models into practical products and services accessible to millions globally. Supported by philanthropic entities, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Open Philanthropy, and the Clean Air Fund, ATMAN aims to address critical air quality challenges with cutting-edge technology.
Prof. S Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpur, said, "IIT Kanpur has taken significant strides in the battle against air pollution. This initiative of establishing the Centre of Excellence ATMAN has firmly positioned the institute at the forefront of efforts to combat air pollution. Through ATMAN, IIT Kanpur is dedicated to the meticulous evaluation of health risks associated with air pollutants, as well as a comprehensive review of air quality standards".
The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring of Rural Areas using Indigenous Technology (AMRIT) is a flagship project that will deploy a dense Sensor Ambient Air Quality Monitor (SAAQM) network with 1,400 nodes across rural areas in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This initiative is the first of its kind to monitor air quality comprehensively in these regions, where data has been limited to cities and towns.
The CoE team will collaborate with the State Pollution Control Board of Bihar and the Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change of Uttar Pradesh to implement AMRIT and improve air quality in these states. The Dynamic Hyper-local Source Apportionment (DHSA) is a cost-effective approach to source apportionment presently piloted in Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The data from DHSA will provide city authorities with valuable insights to make informed decisions for their air quality action plan.
The objective is to expand DHSA systems throughout cities in the country to provide information on air pollution emissions and sources in real time. This is made possible by the PM2.5 Prediction and Airshed Management project, which employs micro-satellite imagery, sensor-based ambient air quality networks, and machine learning algorithms to forecast PM2.5 levels with greater accuracy. In addition, the CoE is working on an airshed strategy that utilizes data-driven policy decisions to tackle air pollution on a larger scale.
Prof. Sachchidanand Tripathi, who heads the Centre of Excellence (CoE), expressed enthusiasm for the impactful research that is underway, "CoE ATMAN is spearheading the infusion of Indigenous Technology towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Association of State Government Departments in Bihar and UP is helping bridge the data gap driven Air Quality Management (AQM) policy".
Source: IANS

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