One of the most urgent public health challenges of our time is the air we breathe. Poor air quality is silently killing millions every year, yet for many of us, the data to fully understand this threat is not within our reach. Why? Because in many cases, the data collected by air quality sensors remains in the hands of corporations, and not the communities most affected.
This dynamic needs to change.
Let’s think about it—why should the company that manufactures an air quality sensor have ownership over the data it records? Once those sensors are installed in cities or communities, they are measuring the air we breathe. That data should be freely available, open, and owned by the communities or local governments that are directly impacted by the air quality levels, not locked behind corporate barriers.
The Case for Open Data
I fully agree with the perspective shared by The University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) in a recent article (link given below). Open, public access to air quality data is a crucial step in addressing this global health emergency. Transparency in air quality measurements empowers citizens and policymakers to understand the scale of the issue and take informed, data-driven actions. It allows us to push for better policies, enforce regulations, and advocate for cleaner air in our communities.
Nowhere is this more relevant than in Pakistan, where smog season is just around the corner. As the winter approaches, cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Karachi will once again face the suffocating blanket of toxic air pollution. For years, Pakistan has been battling severe air quality issues, especially in winter months when smog engulfs large swaths of the country, making breathing hazardous for millions. In a country that already struggles with healthcare infrastructure, this seasonal pollution adds to an already overwhelming public health crisis.
In cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where I’ve been involved in projects centered on PM2.5 air quality monitoring, we’ve been working on real-time installations to provide granular data on pollution. But what’s most frustrating is when that data becomes proprietary, tied up in licensing agreements or guarded by companies. This defeats the very purpose of environmental monitoring, which is supposed to inform and protect the public. And with smog season approaching, we cannot afford to be in the dark about the air quality levels our citizens will be exposed to.
Who Should Own the Data?
There’s a simple principle at work here: whoever owns the sensor should own the data. It’s that straightforward.
When a city installs a sensor, the data should belong to the city. If a community group purchases a sensor to monitor pollution near their homes, that data should belong to them. This local ownership of data empowers communities to take direct action, whether it’s lobbying for cleaner air legislation, alerting neighbors of hazardous air days, or holding corporations and governments accountable.
Manufacturers of these sensors should focus on providing reliable tools, not controlling the information they collect. This isn’t just about fairness; it’s about empowering communities to protect their health and well-being.
The Role of Governments and Advocacy
Governments have an essential role to play here as well. In some countries, air quality data is already treated as a public good, open and accessible to everyone. In others, there’s still a long way to go. Advocates for cleaner air need to push for policies that mandate open data from monitoring systems installed in public or shared spaces.
In Pakistan, especially in the Punjab region, real-time air quality data would allow us to confront the smog issue with better-informed decisions. Instead of relying on outdated or aggregated data, we could warn people of hazardous air levels in real time and enforce stricter emission controls on industries and vehicles during critical periods. Smog is not just a winter inconvenience; it’s a life-threatening issue that requires immediate and informed action.
Collaboration Over Control
One of the solutions is more collaboration, less control. Companies that manufacture these sensors should adopt more open licensing models and work in tandem with governments and communities to ensure that data is open by default. There’s real potential for partnership here, where the private sector can play a pivotal role in providing affordable, accurate sensors, but without monopolizing the data they generate.
The only way we’re going to solve this air quality crisis is through shared knowledge and collective action. Open data leads to better insights, better advocacy, and ultimately, better health outcomes. In Pakistan, with smog becoming an annual crisis, this is no longer a conversation we can put off.
Let’s advocate for change and demand more transparency and ownership over the data that affects our lives.
Kudos to Christa Hasenkopf for sparking this important conversation with her insightful article on how open air quality data can change lives. We need more discussions like this to turn ideas into action.
Link to Christa’s article: https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/poor-air-quality-is-shortening-our-lives-asking-for-open-data-can-change-that/
