The air quality in Hong Kong is often criticized, and it affects patients with chronic diseases such as asthma even more.
The real-time air quality information mobile application "PRAISE-HK" developed by the Environmental Research Institute of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add new features at the end of this year, including air quality route recommendations, listing the air pollution status of each route from the starting point to the destination. Help users choose routes with less pollution.
In addition, the program will also analyze the user's exposure to pollutants.
According to Liu Qihan, director of the Environmental Research Institute of HKUST, air pollution will be severe on 5% to 10% of the days in Hong Kong throughout the year. The new functions of the program are especially important for patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, children and the elderly.
He also said that because the system uses constant data such as traffic and weather conditions, such as the previous incident of the Stonecutters Island barge fire, "it will not be notified as soon as it burns."
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At present, if citizens want to know real-time air quality, they can check the Environmental Protection Department's Air Quality Health Index.
However, there is only one monitoring station in each district, and it is difficult to accurately understand the pollution situation at designated locations in the district.
For example, Liu Qihan said, "The latest monitoring station of the University of Science and Technology will go to Tseung Kwan O, but the pollution situation between the two can be very different."
The Environmental Research Institute launched the "PRAISE-HK" app in 2019, which allows citizens to more accurately view the air pollution in individual streets. So far, about 6,000 people have downloaded it.
Liu Qihan said that the program will add a number of new features by the end of this year, including air quality route suggestions. Users only need to enter the starting point and destination, and the program will display the pollutant exposure of different routes: Fastest and most cost-effective, you ask many questions, use one method to minimize the risk of air pollution."
He emphasized that on days when the air quality is normal, every route may not change much, but about 10% of the days in a year air pollution is particularly serious, "a single app will help you."
"PRAISE-HK" will add new features, including air quality route recommendations, and the total daily exposure to air pollution.
(Provided by Environmental Research)
If positioning is activated, the total daily air pollution exposure of users can be calculated
If the user agrees to allow the program to use the positioning, they can understand the total amount of air pollution they are exposed to daily in the App, and the system can also calculate the changes in exposure when they are indoors or outdoors, open windows, or use air cleaners.
Liu Qihan explained that the indoor air quality was measured by his team in more than 200 different places from 2016, including MTR stations, schools, homes, etc., and tested whether the air conditioner is turned on and the windows are closed. Influence.
In the new function of the program, users can also record sensitive symptoms.
Liu Qihan pointed out that there is no decision to add new functions to the existing program or to install a new program. In the next stage, personalized air quality forecasts and suggestions will be added, such as reminding users to avoid places with poor air pollution, which is expected to be about one and a half years. Later launched.
Six major actions in the new "Hong Kong Clean Air Blueprint".
(Screenshot of "Blueprint")
The Environment Bureau earlier announced a new "Hong Kong Clean Air Blueprint", which mentioned that more detailed regional air quality information will be provided to the public within a few years.
Liu Qihan pointed out that the government has sent personnel to serve as consultants to the team and also communicated with the government.
Christine Lu, the chief development consultant of the Institute of Environmental Studies, is satisfied with the blueprint, and believes that it proposes scientific management, maintains close contact with universities and scientists on air pollution, and has the same direction as foreign countries.
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