How to check real-time air quality information with Air View+ in Google Maps

With deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in Indian cities and villages, it has become imperative to check how bad the AQI is in your area, so that you can take action to safeguard your health.

Google has now rolled out a new feature on Google Maps that allows users to check the real-time air quality information with its new AI-powered Air View+ feature. It also helps deliver air quality data to the government agencies. Let’s see what this new Air View+ feature is and how you can use it to check the real-time air quality information, like AQI Air Quality Layer (AQL), and more.

What’s Air View+ in Google Maps?

As Google says, Air View+ is an ecosystem based solution that brings together local organisations working to deliver real-time hyperlocal air quality information. This includes local sustainability startups, researchers, climate action groups, corporations, city administrators, and citizens.

Air View+ uses Google AI to monitor wide range of data inputs and shares valuable air quality insights with government agencies who are responsible for environmental monitoring. Simultaneously, it also shows real-time hyperlocal air quality information on Google Maps for users in India.

This way, both the government agencies have a wide range of data to monitor, while users get to check real-time air quality information, like AQI, AQL, and more. Let’s see how you can check real-time air quality information on Maps.

How to check real-time air quality information on Google Maps

Checking real-time air quality information is as simple as looking for directions on the app. Follow the below steps.

Step 1: Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or Android smartphone.

Step 2: Tap on the Layer button, which is located on the upper right side.

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Step 3: Now, select the Air Quality option from the Map details section.

Step 4: You should now be able to see the Air Quality Layer (AQL) for your area and the surroundings. But to check real-time information, like AQI, tap on the back button.

Step 5: Now, you should see the Weather widget on the Explore tab on the home screen, tap on it and you should see both weather and the AQI.

Step 6: Tap on the ‘Air Quality’ tab to get detailed information about the AQI for your area. The air quality information keeps updating after a few minutes, giving your the latest data.

That’s how you can easily check real-time air quality information on Google Maps. With this feature, users can get real-time AQL and AQI data on their phones anytime, allowing them to take actions, like using an N95 mask (as Google recommends), among other things.