New Google Maps Feature Will Help You Monitor Nearby Air Quality

JAKARTA - Entering summer in the United States, Google Maps now has two new tools that can be used to keep you safe and healthy during summer activities.

To know the weather outdoors, Google Maps set up a new layer Quality Air Index (AQI) on Android and iOS to help you make the right decision whether it's a safe day to go on an outdoor adventure or not.

You can view an air quality index on Google Maps along with a measure of how healthy the air is in your environment, as well as a guide to activities you can do outdoors.

The air quality layer shows reliable data from government agencies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency. “We are also displaying air quality information from Purple Air, a low-cost sensor network that provides a more hyperlocal view of conditions,” wrote Can Comertoglu, Product Manager for Google Maps and Nofar Paled Levi, Product Manager, Google Search.

To add an air quality layer to your map, you just need to press the layer button in the right corner of your screen, then select Air Quality under Map details. From the results of VOI monitoring, the feature is already available on Android and iOS phones in Indonesia. But apparently, that feature doesn't work here yet.

When you press the Air Quality button on your Google Maps, you will find the phrase “There is no information in this area. There are no reported air quality data for this arena.” However, you can still see the air quality in other countries.

The next feature is the addition of a layer to check Forest Fires. This Google feature can help you navigate wildfires safely. To run this feature, Google is working with the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to see more details about active fires in the area.

Unfortunately, this feature is only available in the United States. You can find the tool on your phone, but it won't work if you're located in a region outside the US.