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PRESS RELEASE: Date: 17th February’ 2015
India’s first Mobile app “SAFAR-Air” dedicated to nation
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Photographs: Launch of MobileApp "SAFAR-Air" by the hands of Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Hon’ble
Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India at IITM Pune.
Highlights:
• "MobileApp" named "SAFAR-Air" to provide the Online Metro Air Quality
information Service in real time, developed by IITM Scientists
• First mobile application service in India to provide current and one to three day
advance forecast for air quality and related health advisories in terms of colour-coded
system
• Impact on lifestyle of common people by offering adjustments to their personal
outdoor plans based on advisory through handset.
• Air Quality information and advisories for Delhi for location specific -5 regions namely
WEST, EAST, NORTH, SOUTH, CENTRAL -Delhi.
• Air Quality information and advisories for Pune for location specific - regions
namely PUNE: URBAN, SUBURBAN, PCMC URBAN AND SUBURBAN.
• SAFAR-Mumbai to be dedicated to nation in April 2015 with mobileApp for Mumbai.
• Re-launching of Toll free IVRS system for AQ related information at 18001801717 in
user friendly format for Delhi and Pune.
IITM Pune, 17 Feb, 2015: On 17th February 2015, Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of
Earth Sciences (MoES), has launched the country’s first air quality Mobile Apps “SAFAR-Air”
and dedicated it to nation in a simple ceremony held at IITM, Pune. Scientists of SAFAR at
IITM, Pune have developed this application who have earlier designed country’s first air
quality forecasting system SAFAR (System of Air quality and weather Forecasting And
Research). The MobileApp “SAFAR-Air” is android based at present and dedicated to nation
by the hands of Dr. Shailesh Nayak, Hon’ble Secretary to Govt. of India, Ministry of Earth
Sciences at IITM, Pune. This MobileApp can be downloaded free of charge from Ministry’s
(MoES) website, SAFAR website (http://safar.tropmet.res.in) and also from Google Play
Store. Dr. Nayak complemented the scientists of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology,
Pune who have developed this unique application, which is very timely. SAFAR air quality
forecasting system is being run jointly by IITM and India Meteorology Department, currently
in Delhi and Pune and will be made operation in Mumbai by May 2015. This will greatly help
policy maker to adopt some city level practical measures from time to time towards clean air,
specially in Delhi.
He also launched the Toll free IVRS system (1800-180-1717) for air quality and weather
related information which is more user friendly and available in Hindi, English and regional
language. Dr Nayak emphasized on its application part which warns common man to think
about the sustainable methodologies and the phenomena on how to respond towards the
hazards , that is, to avoid air pollution and health implications. This is an effort from Ministry
to buildup the consciousness among the community to adapt to sustainable lifestyle as the
maximum contributor of these pollutants are from fossil fuel burning through transport
sector.
During the launch ceremony Dr Gufran Beig, SAFAR-Project Director presented a brief
background on “Indian Metro Air Quality Forecasting services”. Highlights of all the features
of this MobileApp developed by his Team and a depth insight on its vigorous application in
day to day lifestyle of common man were provided. He mentioned that this is the first mobile
application service in India to provide current and one day advance forecast for air quality
and related health advisories in terms of colour-coded system earlier developed by the MoES
scientists that allows the public to easily comprehend the air & to make any adjustments to
their personal outdoor plans based on advisory provided in their handsets.
This application is towards creating awareness to common public so that self mitigation can
be taken up and if society will get knowledgeable about the adverse symptoms of pollution in
real terms then it will immensely benefit all of us.
Presently the Mobile application is operational for Delhi and Pune region and soon it will also
be made available for Mumbai. The AQ information and advisories for Delhi will be available
for 5 specific regions namely for WEST, EAST, NORTH, SOUTH, CENTRAL part of Delhi based
on the 10 monitoring stations data for 8 parameters namely PM2.5, PM10, O3, NOx, CO, BTX
and forecasting model running on India’s fastest supercomputer “Aditya” at IITM. The data of
at least 2 monitoring stations is used for providing information for each region. The AQ
information and advisories for Pune will be for Pune-Urban, -Suburban, PCMC -Urban and -
Suburban.
For more information on the MobileApp- "SAFAR-Air", please contact Dr Gufran Beig,
Project Director, SAFAR at [email protected] / 9423018580.
For Media related queries, please contact: Mrs Shompa Das at [email protected]
HEALTH ADVISORIES AND PRECAUTIONS
SAFAR@MOES-IITM-IMD
-Gufran Beig
Project Director, SAFAR-IITM, Pune
Air Quality Index (AQI)
PM2.5
Health Advisory (Cautions)
PM2.5
Health Effect Statement
Good (0-100)
No cautionary action required
Air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate (101-200)
Unusually sensitive people should consider
reducing prolonged or heavy exertion and
heavy outdoor work.
AQ acceptable for general public but
moderate health concern for
sensitive people
Poor
(201-300)
People with heart or lung disease, older
adults, and children should reduce prolonged
or heavy exertion and outdoor activity.
Increasing likelihood of respiratory
symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Children and elderly at risk.
Everyone may begin to experience
some level of discomfort.
Very Poor
(301-400)
People with heart or lung disease, older
adults, and children should avoid prolonged
or heavy exertion; everyone else should
reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
Triggers Health alert. Eveyone may
experience more or serious health
effects. Significant increase in
respiratory effects in general
population.
Severe/ Critical/
(401-Above)
Everyone should avoid all physical activity
outdoors; people with heart or lung disease,
older adults, and children should remain
indoors and keep activity levels low.
Health Warning of Emergency
Conditions.
Serious risk of respiratory effects in
general public.
Some Important Basic Information
What is PM10 ?
Particulate matters in the atmosphere less than 10 microns in size are classified
as PM10. Particles that are larger in size are filtered out in the upper layers of
the respiratory track, but quite larger part of PM10 particles can enter the lungs.
What is PM2.5 ?
Particles that are less than 2.5 microns in size are considered even more
dangerous as these can penetrate deeper into the lungs and also enter the
bloodstream.
HEALTH IMPACTS
These pollutants can harm the heart and brain as well. People with existing
heart or lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,
congestive heart disease, or ischemic heart disease are at increased risk of
admission to hospitals or even premature death based on the severity of already
existing problem.
