Rohit Bansal – Founder, AQI India and Purelogic Labs
With over 92 per cent of population reeling under the perils of air pollution in India, it has become imperative to identify and mitigate the root causes of this rising health emergency. AQI India, a mobile application launched by Purelogic Labs, enables users to search and explore the location of their choice and check real-time values of the air quality index (AQI) and PM 2.5 separately. AQI India, through its intelligent algorithms and high precision pollution detection sensors, captures every minuscule air particle to publish highly accurate readings. Based on the data at a specific location, the app, available for free on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store, provides personalized health recommendations that help you in minimizing your exposure to pollution. To discuss more about the app, its technicalities and benefits, Ramesh Kumar Raja talked to Rohit Bansal, Founder, AQI India and Purelogic Labs. Excerpts:
How did the idea of AQI India strike you and how is it helpful to the mankind? After living in Beijing, China for many years, I witnessed the health risks with breathing polluted air become reality. I struggled with cough and saw many facing the same problems. During those years, China quickly managed to tackle the air pollution problem as soon as they started to see their population suffer. When I looked at the same problem in India, I saw little to no efforts put for the same. AQI India is here to help the people to see the problem clearly, that the air is not clean and safe to breathe, and what can be done about it.
What are the technicalities involved in the AQI India app to measure the air quality? We have placed hundreds of our own manufactured air quality monitors across India to ensure that people have real-time information about how the air really is. The monitors are sending the data every minute which is being analyzed and then displayed in the mobile application together with health advices.
How user-friendly it is? What are the unique features in AQI India? The AQI India mobile application can be used by anyone interested to know about the air and how
it relates to their health. People can see the data in real-time, view health advices according to the air quality, or look back at timelines for the past 24 hours, one week, or one month.
Who are the target audience, or say who gets maximum benefit from this app? AQI India is there for those who are aware of the major air quality issue India is facing or interested to learn more about it. Parents worried about their children walking to school during high levels, athletes wanting to jog and exercise outdoors, or workers who spend most of their time in an outdoor
environment are all common users of our mobile application.
Is it a first of its kind platform in India? If yes, what’s your vision for the future? AQI India is the first platform to place more than 300 air quality monitors across India to create a network for real-time air quality data. Our aim is to continue to place more monitors across India to ensure that majority of people have a valid data point to know how the air quality really is. It is hard for some people to know if the air is good or not, if there are no monitors to measure the air. That is why monitors are needed all across the country.
How has been its performance at the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store? How many downloads are there and what is its average retention rate on smartphones? Since recently launching the mobile application, we have had more than 10.000 downloads. The launch was in the spring and we expect the number to rise much higher during the winter when air pollution hits northern India and people will be checking the air quality on a daily basis.
What is your monetization model and how do you plan to take it forward? We are evaluating the market to create the most suitable indoor and outdoor air quality monitors to be used in India and will be adding those to our current product range. There are different needs that need to be taken into account when it comes to measuring the air quality and our monitors will be able to support those kinds of needs.
What are your strategy and plans to promote AQI India? A lot of our users are passionate about knowing the air quality and trying to reduce the air pollution. Devoted users are those who have been our main drivers so far and we continue to look for those communities who really struggle with air pollution and want something to be done about it. Do you think the government needs to promote this sort of technology for the larger interest of the people? The government has the resources to ensure that a majority of the Indian population become aware of the air pollution problem which in turn could lead to people trying to decrease creating the pollution in the first place. With the right policies and support from the government, the lifetime of Indians could be increased by several years. ■
“Since recently launching the mobile application, we have had more than 10,000 downloads. The launch was in the spring and we expect the number to rise much higher during the winter when air pollution hits northern India and people will be checking the air quality on a daily basis”