IIT Kanpur Sets up New Centre of Excellence to Monitor Air Quality

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has established a new centre of excellence — ATMAN (Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Air-quality iNdicators) that will focus on building indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing and AI/ML capabilities to enhance air quality. 

With the use of cutting-edge technology, CoE ATMAN seeks to transform sustainable technologies and business models into useful goods and services, according to a statement from IIT Kanpur.

A dense Sensor Ambient Air Quality Monitor network with 1,400 nodes will be installed throughout rural Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as part of the AMRIT project, one of ATMAN’s initiatives.

It further stated that ATMAN, which is funded by philanthropic organizations such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Open Philanthropy, and the Clean Air Fund, seeks to use cutting-edge technology to address important air quality issues.

The institute further stated that, although data has only been available for cities and towns, this program is the first of its kind to monitor air quality extensively. To improve air quality action in these states, the CoE team will collaborate on AMRIT with the State Pollution Control Board of Bihar and the Department of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Government of Uttar Pradesh.