Spain launches air quality app to get real-time updates and forecasts

The Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenges (MITECO) has launched a new smartphone app that increases public access to air quality information. The app uses real-time data from National Air Quality Index (AQI) sensor stations to provide users with up-to-date information on the air quality in their city. The aim is to allow residents to easily make informed decisions about their health and travel plans.

This app expands the functionality of the existing web-based AQI map by introducing new features. Users can now view air quality forecasts for up to two days ahead, providing a forward-looking perspective that was previously unavailable. The app also includes modeled data to fill gaps when sensor measurements are unavailable due to technical issues.

Spain launches air quality app to get real-time updates and forecasts

The air quality categories used in the app are consistent with those in the web version. These categories—good, fairly good, fair, unfavorable, very unfavorable, and extremely unfavorable—reflect levels of various pollutants, including PM10, PM2.5, tropospheric ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Each station reports air quality based on these pollutants.

In addition to current air quality readings, the app provides health recommendations for both the general population and sensitive groups. Users can also track the evolution of air quality in recent months, giving them more context for current data.

The app is available for download in major app stores for Android and iOS devices. With this new tool, MITECO aims to make air quality information more accessible and useful, helping people better manage their health and exposure to the environment.