Here is another app to monitor Haze and it is not NEA MyENV app

With the haze coming back to Singapore in the recent days, I have been watching the NEA app, MyENV, for the latest update. Unfortunately, the app may look nice but does not seem to provide you with the real situation (based on my nose and eye).

asia-air-quality

For example, yesterday’s night was hazy but the pollutant index is just slightly above 50. On closer inspection, you realize that it is measuring the 24-hour average of the PM2.5 count.

You will need to scroll down to see the 1-hr PM2.5 data. However, as mentioned earlier, the data doesn’t feels like the actual situation. I could smell the burning, yet the data seems to be hovering below 100.

For Singaporeans who had encountered the hazy condition last year, I am sure our noses are more attuned to severity of the haze. Today, I stumbled upon this app, Asia Air Quality. It consist of various air quality from various agencies. The data are curated from the official source in that country.

Here is a description of the app.

The Asia Air Quality widget shows the real-Time Air Quality Index (AQI) for more than 2000 stations/cities in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Japan.

The Air Quality data sources varies depending on the cities:

– The US Embassy PM2.5 data is used for Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
– The China Ministry Environment Pollution Departement PM10 data is used for all other cities in China.
– For Hong Kong and Taiwan, the respective Environment agencies PM2.5 data is used.
– For Singapore, the Singapore National Environment Agency PM2.5 data is used.
– For the other countries, please refer to our website (aqicn.org)

The overall AQI, PM2.5 and PM10 measurements are updated every hour.

In order to install the widget, you need to insert it on the homescreen:

– If you are using Android 4.0 (Ice Cream sandwich), select the “All Apps” icon (usually on the top-right corner), then the widget tab, and click on the “Beijing Air” widget.
– If you are using any other version below 4.0, you need to long-press in an empty area on the default home screen and select “Widgets”, and then “Beijing Air”.

For more information, you can consult the website aqicn.org.

Is this the best looking app? No. It is not. But since it can be added as a widget to the screen to show the PM2.5 pollutant index, I think it serves my purpose. Is it accurate? I am not sure but it sure feels like it is accurate (again with my eyes and nose).

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Click Here to Download the App (Android)

or

Watch the status over their website

There, you have it. Another app for you to ponder if you should wear a mask or not while our neighbor has to act fast to stop this hazy condition.

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