Tashkent launched its own open data platform, Air Tashkent, for monitoring the air quality of the capital city. Developed by the Department of Digital Development (DDD) under the city’s hokimiyat (regional governance body) in collaboration with a group of national scientists Amudario.
The platform collects data from 10 locally manufactured OXUS-WS stations, which were installed by the DDD between November and December 2022. Aleksey Hen, the head of the department and deputy hokim (regional governor) for IT implementation, provided this information in a statement to Gazeta.uz.
The stations' sensors gather following data:
- Levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10 and PM1);
- Air temperature;
- Air humidity;
- Atmospheric pressure (available only at Peoples' Friendship Square and New Uzbekistan park stations);
- Ultraviolet radiation level (available only at Peoples' Friendship Square and New Uzbekistan park stations);
- Wind speed and direction
- Precipitation level;
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) level.
Each station operates primarily from the power grid but has solar charging capabilities as a backup energy source.
The selection of station locations was a collaborative effort involving specialists from Uzhydromet and the Tashkent Ecology Department, Aleksey Khen stated.
Locations were chosen based on the absence of permanent background pollutants, such as combined heat and power (CHP) plants. The explanation is that the Air Quality Index (AQI) cannot be objective in the vicinity of pollutants.
Placement of OXUS-WS stations. The map displays the wind direction by default.
Additionally, DDD took into account the annual wind rose. Given that air flows into the capital from the mountains and moves southward and southwestward, the DDD positioned the stations to monitor the air quality upon entry into the capital and track changes in quality indicators as it exits the city.
The OXUS-WS stations are positioned at a height of two meters from the ground, at the approximate level of human height, considered optimal by Alexey Khen.
However, to ensure protection given the accessibility of the equipment, the sensors are placed on the territory of public schools, kindergartens and medical institutions. Only one device is located in the Peoples' Friendship Square.
Incidents of vandalism, such as damage to solar panels, have been reported multiple times. For instance, at the Peoples' Friendship Square station, the foundation had to be repaired due to such damage.
The portal updates station data hourly, providing statistics for the preceding seven days.
Additionally, besides fundamental meteorological indicators, the map indicates the locations of heating centers using fuel oil and coal. Air Tashkent integrates with the system of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Uzbekistan, displaying all registered fires affecting air quality on the map.
Furthermore, depending on pollution levels, the website offers recommendations for sensitive groups and all residents, along with a weather forecast from Yandex.
Air Tashkent is compatible with various platforms and devices, ensuring accessibility and optimization across different technologies.
Research opportunities
Aleksey Khen highlighted the rise of pollution levels during high humidity, especially evident in foggy conditions.
“It's as if water particles are mistaken for pollution by sensors, but when it rains, the pollution readings decline,” deputy hokim noted.
According to his observations, not only OXUS-WS stations but also IQAir and other sensors exhibit similar behavior.
“It is interesting to know the reason behind it. So far, no one, including the meteorologists I’ve asked, has been able to give an answer,” shared Aleksey Khen.
To facilitate research, the DDD enables data downloading in various formats via Tashkent’s open data portal, opendata.tashkent.uz. Currently, only information on the Air Quality Index indicators is available, but DDD aims to expand the downloadable dataset, expecting completion within a week.
As funding becomes available, DDD plans to extend the sensor network by installing 30 additional stations. This expansion will provide more accurate air quality information for Tashkent residents and other regions, offering a more solid foundation for scientific research and analysis.
