December 10, 2007—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has combined its air data with Google’s innovative mapping techniques to develop two tools that let computer users see air quality information on a virtual globe.
The first tool is part of the new Air Emission Sources Web site, which is designed to make emissions data for six common pollutants easy to find and understand. Based on the latest National Emissions Inventory, the Where You Live site uses charts and Google Earth files to answer a user’s questions. Users can look at overall emissions, emissions by type of industry or by largest polluter, or which facilities emit any of six common pollutants.
EPA also is providing Air Quality Index (AQI) information in the Google Earth format. The AQI is EPA’s color-coded tool to inform the public about daily air pollution levels in their communities. EPA, in collaboration with state and local governments, provides AQI forecasts and conditions for more than 300 cities across the US.
Use the AQI in Google Earth tool on the AIRNow Web site to quickly see air quality across the country, then click on a specific location to see that city’s AQI forecast and current levels of ozone or particle pollution.
EPA is also using the Google Earth platform to display Acid Rain Program data, under EPA’s Clean Air Markets Web site.
