Details of the Object table and JSON output of historical air quality API created by Ambee

In this article, I will delve into the specifics of the object table and JSON output of the Ambee Historical Air Quality API. As a programmer, you are likely already familiar with these concepts, but understanding the unique implementation of these structures in the context of Ambee's API is crucial for effectively utilizing the data provided. By clarifying the nuances of the object table and JSON output, I hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of this valuable data source for air quality analysis.

Object and Description of API

ObjectsDescription
PM2.5Particulate matter < 2.5um (ug/m3)
PM10Particulate matter < 10um (ug/m3)
SO2Sulphur dioxide conc (ppb)
NO2Nitrogen dioxide conc (ppb)
OZONEOZONE conc (ppb)
COCarbon monoxide conc (ppm)
AQIAir quality index
updatedAtISO timestamp of event in UTC
aqiInfoBrief info about the effects of the AQI returned
  1. PM2.5: This object measures the concentration of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers in the air. These tiny particles can be inhaled and cause serious health problems, particularly for people with respiratory issues.

  2. PM10: This object measures the concentration of particulate matter with a diameter of less than 10 micrometers in the air. Like PM2.5, these particles can be inhaled and cause health problems, particularly for people with respiratory issues.

  3. SO2: This object measures the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air. This gas is primarily produced by burning fossil fuels and can cause respiratory problems and other health issues when inhaled.

  4. NO2: This object measures the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the air. This gas is primarily produced by vehicle emissions and can cause respiratory problems when inhaled.

  5. OZONE: This object measures the concentration of ozone in the air. At ground level, ozone is a harmful pollutant that can cause respiratory problems and other health issues when inhaled.

  6. CO: This object measures the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. This gas is primarily produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and can cause headaches, dizziness, and other health issues when inhaled.

  7. AQI: This object provides an overall air quality index that takes into account the concentrations of various pollutants. The index is often used by governments and health organizations to communicate the health risks associated with air pollution.

  8. updatedAt: This object provides an ISO timestamp of the event in UTC, indicating when the data was last updated.

  9. aqiInfo: This object provides a brief summary of the potential health effects associated with the air quality index value returned by the API. This information can help users understand the significance of the data they are receiving.

The information in the table is useful for a variety of purposes, particularly for individuals and organizations interested in monitoring and mitigating the effects of air pollution. By providing detailed measurements of various pollutants, including particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide, the API offers valuable insights into the quality of the air in a particular area. The air quality index (AQI) also provides an easily understandable summary of overall air quality, allowing users to quickly assess the potential health risks associated with pollution levels. These measurements and insights can help individuals and organizations make informed decisions about their activities and reduce their exposure to harmful pollutants. Additionally, this information can inform policy decisions and advocacy efforts aimed at reducing air pollution and improving public health.

Clarifying JSON output

The given JSON output is a response from an API request and contains information about air quality measurements for a specific location. The response includes a "message" key with a value of "success" indicating that the request was successful. The "data" key contains an array with a single object representing the air quality measurements for the requested location. The object includes keys for various pollutants, including NO2, PM10, PM25, CO, SO2, OZONE, and AQI. The "lat" and "lng" keys provide the latitude and longitude coordinates for the location. The "createdAt" key provides a timestamp for when the measurements were taken. Additionally, the "postalCode" key provides the postal code of the location, and the "majorPollutant" key indicates which pollutant has the highest concentration. This JSON output can be easily parsed by applications and used to display air quality data for a particular location in a user-friendly format.

{
"message": "success",
"data": [
{
"NO2": 8.049,
"PM10": 69.444,
"PM25": 36.102,
"CO": 0.332,
"SO2": 5.873,
"OZONE": 6.174,
"AQI": 102,
"lat": 17.2739,
"lng": 78.6938,
"createdAt": "2021-03-05T12:00:00.000Z",
"postalCode": "508213",
"majorPollutant": "PM2.5"
}
]
}

Conclusion

With this, we have discussed various aspects of air quality data, including the objects measured and their descriptions, JSON output format for air quality data, and the usefulness of this information. We have seen that air quality data can provide valuable insights into the quality of the air in a specific area and inform policy decisions aimed at reducing air pollution and improving public health. The JSON output format provides an easy-to-parse structure for air quality data that can be used by applications to display air quality information in a user-friendly format. Overall, this conversation highlights the importance of monitoring and mitigating the effects of air pollution for the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

Footnote

It is possible to request access to the Ambee historical air quality API through the third party data marketplace of Worldindata. This makes it easier for developers to obtain access to the API and integrate historical air quality data into their applications. To request access to the API, developers can visit the Worldindata marketplace and create an account. Once logged in, they can search for the Ambee API and follow the instructions to request access. This may involve providing some personal and professional information to verify their identity and intended use of the API. Once access is granted, developers can start using the Ambee historical air quality API to access and integrate historical air quality data into their applications or services.