Delhi to use AI system for 72-hour air pollution forecasts

Delhi will soon get an artificial intelligence-powered Decision Support System to predict air pollution, identify pollution hotspots and help authorities act before air quality worsens. The system is being developed in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and will be part of a wider air quality management system the Delhi government plans to build over the next five years.

Officials said the AI-enabled system will use pollution data, weather information and analytical tools to forecast air pollution 48 to 72 hours in advance. It is also expected to trace emission sources at the local level, generate advisories and provide scientific inputs to help departments decide on action before pollution becomes severe.

The Decision Support System is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Department of Environment and the AIRAWAT Research Foundation, a Section 8 non-profit organisation set up at the IIT Kanpur under the Government of India’s AI Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cities. The agreement will remain valid for five years and can be extended if both sides agree.

A key part of the collaboration will be the expansion of Delhi’s air quality monitoring network. Officials said the city plans to install more low-cost sensors across different areas, use mobile monitoring laboratories and integrate satellite data to improve monitoring. They said the expanded network is expected to give a much clearer picture of pollution levels in different neighbourhoods than what is available now.

The monitoring system will also help authorities identify pollution hotspots, map airsheds and understand how pollution moves within Delhi and from neighbouring states. Officials said this will make it easier to distinguish between pollution generated within the city and pollution coming from outside, allowing departments to take more targeted action.

The Delhi government expects the project to improve planning and pollution control by giving departments better data and analysis. Officials said it will strengthen enforcement, improve coordination among departments and help authorities prepare better for periods of high pollution.

The project also aims to make air quality management more transparent, improve accountability and strengthen the system for handling public complaints related to air pollution.

Another part of the collaboration is the preparation of standard operating procedures, coordination mechanisms and graded response protocols for different departments. Officials said these will be aligned with existing programmes and frameworks, including the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Graded Response Action Plan and the National Clean Air Programme, so that agencies can work together more effectively during pollution episodes.

The project will also focus on training government officials who will use the new systems. Officers from different departments will be trained to understand the data generated by the AI platform and use it while planning pollution-control measures. Manuals, guidance documents and other technical materials will also be prepared to help departments use the system effectively.

Under the agreement, the Department of Environment will coordinate with government departments and other stakeholders, provide operational and technical data wherever permitted under the law, appoint a nodal officer to oversee implementation and review, and validate the analytical models before they are put into use.

AIRAWAT Research Foundation will develop the AI-based tools and analytical systems, deploy technical experts and researchers, ensure compliance with data protection and information technology laws, and submit regular progress reports along with policy recommendations.

The secretary of the Department of Environment will supervise implementation of the project on behalf of the Delhi government, while the chief executive officer or project director of AIRAWAT Research Foundation will coordinate implementation from the organisation’s side.

Regular review meetings will be held to monitor progress and align priorities. Officials said the MoU does not involve any immediate financial commitment from the Delhi government, and any future project requiring funding will be sent separately for approval.

Officials said the collaboration is expected to improve Delhi’s understanding of pollution patterns, make it easier to identify local sources of pollution and support quicker and more effective pollution-control measures.

By combining AI, low-cost sensors, mobile monitoring laboratories, satellite data and scientific analysis, the government plans to build a stronger air quality management system to support better planning, improve coordination and public health, and help the capital deal with air pollution more effectively.

- Ends