- Perspectives -

Illuminating Air Quality

by Nathalie Van Duijvenbode on January 27, 2025

Rising concerns about air quality are driving innovative solutions worldwide. One of the best examples of this can be seen in the lights that are displayed on the Namsan Seoultower. Located at the heart of Seoul with a height of over 240 meters, the tower can easily be spotted by those even in the furthest vicinities of the capital. While it may initially seem like the colours are randomly displayed, they serve a much bigger purpose. The tower’s lights serve as a visual air quality monitoring system, with each of its four colours indicating the levels of microdust.

Image source: Namsan Seoul Tower

This innovative approach highlights the importance of accessibility in communicating air quality data. Not everyone can immediately interpret these numbers, which is why visual cues like the tower’s lights are incredibly helpful. They simplify complex data, making it digestible to a wider audience and enabling the surrounding community to better understand and respond to air quality conditions.

However, it’s important to note that not using numbers could also have a negative side as sometimes the bands defined are not actually healthy. For example the WHO defines an annual limit of 5 μg/m3 for healthy air whereas the Namsan Tower stays green until seven times that figure.

Despite this, the Namsan Seoultower remains a powerful symbol of community-driven innovation. Beyond serving its immediate community, it inspires similar initiatives globally. Earlier this month, we received an email from Dr. Thanasak Thumbuntu, an OpenAQ Community Ambassador from Thailand, who informed us about an interesting project that would be conducted by the Intermediate Certificate course of Young Leadership in Democratic Governance students of King Prajadhipok’s Institute’s Young Leaders in Democracy Program in Thailand.

The project aims to establish the country’s first public air quality monitoring system, modeled after the Namsan Seoultower. The proposed initiative focuses on Bangkok’s Bangramad area, specifically at the Wat Intharawat temple and its surrounding sub-communities, which have recently raised concerns about poor air quality due to ongoing construction projects and poor road conditions.

The Wat Intharawat Temple in Bangramad

Understanding the importance of this initiative, we are happy to share that we’ve donated two of our air quality monitors – one outdoor air quality monitor, which will be integral to the creation of the public air quality monitoring system, and one indoor sensor which will be utilized in a local child development center.

In addition to this effort, the King Prajadhipok’s Institute’s PNP students have been deeply involved in Bangramad’s journey towards cleaner air. Their dedication is evident through a series of initiatives such as establishing a dust-free room at the local childcare center, making air quality data easily accessible through QR-coded posters disseminated throughout the area, and preparing to organize a public assembly and drafting community documents.

A poster with a QR code providing outdoor air quality data and adaptation tips for the Wat Intharawat Community. Hundreds will be distributed to help residents tackle air pollution.
This poster, displayed at the school and shared online with parents, lets them monitor their child’s room air quality, highlighting air quality as crucial to their child’s health.

Their commitment to creating lasting change is clear, as they continue to expand their reach and deepen their impact. Ensuring accessibility to reliable air quality data lays the foundation to achieving their agenda of clean air for everyone – as the first step towards change is being aware of the situation around you.

This is what makes their proposed outdoor air quality monitoring system so impactful – it simplifies complex information and encourages people to take an active role in understanding air quality data. For example, seeing a red light indicating bad air quality may prompt people in the area to assess how bad the situation actually is, which can eventually motivate them to explore actionable solutions in addressing the issue.

In a world where air quality concerns are growing, the emphasis on awareness and accessibility is important now more than ever. It’s becoming increasingly clear that there is no single way to present air quality data, and that innovative approaches that engage the senses can help cater to diverse audiences and inspire meaningful action.

While this project is still in development, we will be closely monitoring the progress and will be sharing updates on its completion. In the future, we hope to see a rise in creative initiatives that focus on presenting air quality data in a different or unique manner. Do you know any more? Let us know, we’d be interested to learn more about it!

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