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This is a new innovation which means that data can be collected from a wider area including, off-road areas that would normally be difficult to install static monitors. This means that instead of buying one device that only collects data in one area, you have one device that can collect data from multiple data points. Having them on moving objects improves our spatial coverage and resolution. The AirQo device can be deployed at static locations or on mobile platforms, such as motorcycles locally called ‘boda-bodas’. They also include a wide range of data transmission and power options so they can operate in areas where there is limited access to power or poor internet connectivity. The devices are locally designed to withstand the environmental conditions of many African cities, such as dust and extreme weather. These measurements are transmitted, in near real-time, to the cloud-based AirQo to predict local pollution. The devices continuously take samples of air from a location and use a light scattering method to quantify the concentration of particulate matter. To my knowledge, this is the only locally developed system that’s been designed and optimised to help African cities – with limited resources and poor infrastructure – to measure and track air pollution trends.ĪirQo devices primarily measure particulate matter – a mixture of solid particles in the air – which can have adverse effects on our health when we inhale them. This challenge inspired my students and I to create AirQo, a low-cost air quality monitoring system which was publicly launched earlier this year.
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Kampala, like many other cities in sub-Saharan Africa, has a critical data gap on the scale and magnitude of air pollution. How do they do this and who will be using them? You’ve started to manufacture machines that monitor air quality. In addition to this, more than 90% of households in Kampala rely on charcoal and firewood as an energy source for cooking.Īnd because there’s poor solid waste disposal, another key contributor of air pollution is the open burning of garbage. And with just 30% paved road network, dust from unpaved road surfaces and road construction activities will contribute to particulate matter in the air. These vehicles have a faster rate of wear and tear leading to a higher environmental footprint.
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To make matters worse, most of the vehicles in Kampala are pre-owned and, until 2018, the average fleet age was more than 15 years. A great deal of pollution therefore comes from vehicle emissions and heavy traffic congestion. It’s a very busy city, with millions using buses, private vehicles and motorbikes to commute in and out every day. The city hosts more than 32% of the country’s manufacturing facilities and so industrial emissions from activity – such as metal processing, furniture, textiles and plastics – will contribute a significant amount of pollution to the air. Kampala is Uganda’s political capital and financial district contributing to over 30% of Uganda’s GDP.
#AIR CREATIVE COLLECTION 11.0.0 DRIVERS#
Generally, I would say the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala are transport, industry, burning of wood or charcoal and burning of waste. What are the main drivers of air pollution in Kampala and are there any indications of how bad it is? He explains how it works, and why it’s so important. Engineer Bainomugisha – along with other scientists at Makerere University – has developed a machine that monitors air quality. In Uganda, even though air pollution is a big challenge in parts of the country, there is hardly any air quality monitoring. The AirQo device, a low-cost air quality monitor developed by Makerere University.