Yash Bhavsar
27 Jan 2025
Redefining Air: Past Lessons, Present Actions, Future Possibilities.
Air pollution is a major global health concern, contributing to over 1 in 8 deaths worldwide. It ranks as the second leading risk factor for premature mortality, following high blood pressure. Regardless of location, air pollution can affect you, originating from vehicle exhaust, smoke, road dust, industrial emissions, pollen, gas-powered yard tools, household chemicals, and more.
Air pollution is a huge concern among all, and addressing it needs a collective effort to protect our environment. To drive this mission and raise awareness about air quality and its impact, the Indian Air Quality Network, a dynamic platform, organized its inaugural event with support from Oizom, "Redefining Air: Past Lessons, Present Actions, Future Possibilities." This event brought together visionaries, including environmental experts, industry leaders, policymakers, researchers, and professors, to share their knowledge and contribute to creating a cleaner, healthier future.
The event was filled with impactful discussions, insightful presentations, and innovative solutions designed to track and tackle air pollution and its associated challenges. Many industry leaders, environmentalists, and experts attended this event to share their insights, knowledge, and expertise, creating a collaborative platform for meaningful discussions and bringing actionable solutions.
The presence of the chief guest, Mr. Mukesh Khare, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Engineering at IIT Delhi, greatly enriched the event, who shared his invaluable knowledge and expertise. He shared his thoughts on the Indian Air Quality Network (IAQN) and its role in addressing air pollution. He said:
"The event was truly enlightening, filled with valuable insights and thought-provoking presentations. IAQN is taking remarkable steps to solve one of the most concerning global challenges, which is air quality. It is heartening to see such a thoughtful and inspiring initiative driving change and fostering collaboration among industry experts, researchers, and policymakers. We should collaborate more frequently with IAQN to develop and implement smart and innovative strategies that improve air quality and create a healthier and more sustainable future for everyone. By working together, we can create an impact difference in building a cleaner, better world for future generations."
Adding to the thought leadership, Mr. Sohil Patel, Chief Technical Officer at Oizom, also presented on the topic “Harnessing Technology to Visualize and Solve the Clean Air Challenge.” He introduced innovative solutions that enable industries and communities to better understand air quality issues and implement effective mitigation strategies across various sectors. During his address to air quality and the IAQN community, Mr. Patel stated:
Improving air quality is essential for our survival on this planet, and it's a cause I deeply care about, not just for us today but for future generations, including my daughters. While air quality monitoring has advanced globally, a significant challenge is that the data is often complex and hard to interpret. Decision-makers need clear insights into trends and sources, where effective visualization becomes critical.
To address this, we've developed the GIS-Based Visualization Tool—a powerful platform designed to make air quality data accessible and actionable for policymakers, researchers, and the general public. By leveraging advanced technological tools like these, we can make air quality monitoring easier. We also implemented many LLM models on this visualization tool, which helped us get various insights we couldn't see or visualize usually.
The establishment of the IAQN platform marks a significant step toward a cleaner, greener future. This initiative aims to unite all environmentalists from diverse backgrounds and build a community focused on promoting a clean and sustainable environment for all. With the community and events like this, the foundation is laid for a collaborative journey toward achieving cleaner air and a better world.
If you’re passionate about contributing to the mission of cleaner air and creating a healthier environment, you can join the IAQN community. By becoming a member, you’ll connect with like-minded individuals, industry experts, and environmental enthusiasts, all working together toward a sustainable future. Click here to take the first step and be a part of this impactful movement!