Prepared byJohn E. White and the AirNow Team

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Sonoma Technology, Inc.

Health Data Initiative Forum III

The Health Datapalooza – Data Lab BreakoutJune 5th , 2012

United States Environmental Protection Agency - The AirNow Program

Air Quality Data for Your Application/Service

What is AirNow?

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AirNow is the national framework for acquiring and distributing air quality information

• Collects, quality assures, and transfers real-time and forecasted air quality information to the public

• Gathers data provided by 130 federal, state, and local air quality agencies

• Issues weather/air quality news stories• Partners with national media• Provides air quality education and outreach

America’s “go to” resource for current and forecasted air quality information

What is AirNow?

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• Data Decision• Informs the public, media, and decision

makers• Educates and supports the voluntary

AirNow community of agencies• Provides data to other systems

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AirNow Web Services: Why Are They Needed?

• Best way to retrieve data/information ‘on demand’ from AirNow• Air quality Forecasts/Action days• Observed air quality data• Agency, reporting area, and monitoring site information

• Current Uses• Local Air Agency websites, news organizations, schools, researchers, and public• Spreadsheets, mobile apps and other applications

• EPA Wants Your Help!• Getting air quality conditions and forecasts to the public or your audience• The Challenge: making air quality information more personal…more localized• Integrate with other environmental/scientific applications? How about weather?

Example: EPA doesn’t want to tell people to stay inside, so can we empower people to exercise knowing both weather and air quality?

• To sign up and get air quality data – go to AirNow Gateway• www.airnowgateway.org - Login/request new account

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AirNow Web Services: Some Current Examples

AirNow Web Services – The Future• AirNow Application Programming Interface (API)

• Replace AirNow Gateway• Additional services (WCS – point, WMS – mapping service), data sets,

and formats useful for building applications• An easier to use, well-documented interface

• API will include:• Expanded library of services• Additional geospatial services• More payload options• Improved standardization and extensive documentation• Online query generator tools

• Release Date• Fall 2012

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Thank youJohn E. White -- EPA AirNow

(919) 541-2306, white.johne@epa.gov

Steve Ludewig – Sonoma Technology, Inc.

(707) 665-9900, steve@sonomatech.com