BelAir

BelAIR air quality app

The BelAIR app gives a score, ranging from "very good" to "horrible", of the current air quality everywhere in Belgium. The app also makes a forecast of the air quality for the next few days and gives an idea of the long-term evolution of air quality.

Measuring and modelling

The three regions in Belgium have a network of more than 100 automatic measuring stations that measure the air quality very accurately. However, it is impossible to deploy these expensive devices everywhere. Using computer programmes, we calculate the air quality in places where no measurements are made. Together with the available measurements, an estimate of the air quality at each location in Belgium can then be made.

BelAQI air quality index

How good or bad the current air quality is depends on the concentrations of different substances in the air. The BelAQI air quality index is used to assess the air quality. It gives the air quality a rating from "very good" to "horrible". To calculate the BelAQI, the concentrations of various substances (nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and ozone) are taken into account. For these substances, an individual assessment is made based on the short-term health effects. The worst assessed determines the overall BelAQI.

Air quality in the long term

The BelAIR app not only gives an idea of the day-to-day (or sometimes even hour-to-hour) variation in air quality at a location at the moment, but also gives an idea of the air quality in the long term. The annual average concentrations for a location are compared with the European limit values and the World Health Organisation's health advisory values. This gives an idea of the long-term impact of air pollution on health.