Google Maps’ new feature will now let users see the air quality of a place that they are searching. With this feature, Google Maps users can decide if they want to go to a place after finding the air quality of the place or not. The ability to see the air quality on Google Maps is now live for all users.
Let us know how you can use Google Maps’ new feature called AQI.
Google Maps AQI
The air quality index (AQI) is a new map layer on Google Maps. It is available for both Android and iOS. When you search for a place for directions or any other information, you can now turn on the layer and see the air quality of that place and even the nearby places.
To use the feature, you just need to tap the circular button placed on the right side below the search bar and this will open the various map layers including the air quality. After you enable it, you will see various colored dots in various locations. For example, Red is for very unhealthy, yellow and orange are for unhealthy, and green is for healthy air quality. Have a look at what it looks like.
If you want, you can also get more information of a specific region to see the air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency and PurpleAir provides the air quality data in the U.S. While, in India, it comes from National AQI, CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board).
AQI from PurpleAir will also show up on the Nest devices. For those who don’t know, Google introduced the AQI functionality on Nest Hub last year.
Apart from this, Google Maps will also have the wildfire layer, that will show details on the active fires in the nearby areas. The information is taken from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). This is also now live. And, smoke data will also be added to Google Maps in the US.
You need to update the Google Maps app to get access to the new feature.
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Ms Kalinga