Time Flies When You Are Doing Good
By Pallavi Pant, OpenAQ Board Chair and Head of Global Initiatives at Health Effects Institute
Ten years ago, an idea came to fruition. The idea was to build a universally accessible database of global air quality data so that anyone would have easy access to the data needed to understand the risks of air pollution, communicate the urgency of reducing emissions, achieve buy-in from policymakers for interventions, and implement targeted solutions.
Importantly, the database would have the following characteristics:
- Share real-time data and serve as a repository for historical data
- Make the data interoperable so that users could bypass the arduous process of standardizing disparate data
- Be open-source so that users could understand and build off of the underlying code
- Make the data available for all uses and attribute the data to those who generate the data
- Most importantly, be free to all
That idea was OpenAQ, an organization I have been involved with since not long after its founding in 2015. Going strong at 10 years and staying true to its mission, OpenAQ serves as the world’s largest open-source, open-access database of ambient air quality monitoring data. Over the last decade, I have witnessed firsthand how OpenAQ’s existence has accelerated data-informed action and catalysed meaningful change (see a few use cases here). I’m proud to now serve as the Chair of OpenAQ’s Board of Directors.
Since inception, OpenAQ has been a community-led effort, with individuals and institutions around the world identifying and contributing sources of data, advocating for data transparency, contributing code, and championing the cause.
Did everyone believe in OpenAQ at first? Early on, the founders were told that no one would trust data scraped from government websites for peer-reviewed work. But the scientific community soon realized OpenAQ’s value. The database could quickly replace hours, even days, of painstaking work to harmonize different data sources. A case in point: OpenAQ has been cited in more than 500 scientific and technical publications and proceedings since our founding. At a retreat this summer, we asked some former leaders for their reflections. One of my favorites was the fact that they so often hear about OpenAQ “in the wild,” that the platform is mentioned ad nauseam by researchers, think tanks, funders, and others, demonstrating that OpenAQ has become core infrastructure for air quality work around the world. Another anecdote highlighted the importance of contributions from our global community of users: they found by examining data on OpenAQ that the US Environmental Protection Agency had a reporting error in their air quality database, which they were quick to fix when they learned of it. Other government agencies have likewise been responsive to correcting such issues as timestamps and geographic coordinates.
Like any important endeavor, we face challenges. Some challenges are technical: glitches in the data sharing protocols, or technical changes that can, at any time, stop the flow of data. Thus, as we move towards discovery and ingestion of new data, we must also look backwards to ensure all the data continue to be retrieved appropriately. Other challenges are largely beyond our control. For example, it was a huge blow to everyone who cares about air inequality when earlier this year the U.S. government shut down monitoring at embassies; many of these stations were in under-resourced countries with little or no government monitoring or data sharing and were serving a vital local and global need. See our executive director’s commentary: The U.S. Must Continue Sharing Embassy Air Quality Data.
We also see lots of opportunities. I am very proud of the small but mighty OpenAQ team. It already punches above its weight, but, with sufficient resources, we can uncover and aggregate many new sources of existing open data and support citizens in advocating for data transparency when data are not openly accessible. We can spur greater use of air quality data by introducing even more potential users to our platform, providing tools and training so that all users–with varying levels of data literacy–can easily access and make innovative use of the air quality data we host. And, in doing so, create community. Follow us on socials or subscribe to our newsletter to be alerted to the release of our new strategic plan this fall.
At OpenAQ, we are proud to arm the world with air quality data. Our work is largely behind the scenes, but it is critical, underpinning countless clean air efforts. I invite you to peruse our history and learn who has helped us succeed on our web page: Celebrating 10 years of OpenAQ. I would also like to share my heartfelt gratitude, both to those who have donated time and energy, and to those of you who have provided resources, advice and words of wisdom along the way. Finally, If you believe, as I do, in the transformative power of open data, I invite you to support OpenAQ’s work with a generous contribution.
