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A new batch of 40 AI_r air-quality sensors has arrived in Leeds, marking an important step in the rollout of the SYNERGIA Project. Once deployed, the new sensors will bring the total number of air-quality monitoring devices across Leeds to around 80 sensors. This growing network will help provide a more detailed understanding of how air quality varies across different neighbourhoods and support community-based environmental monitoring. Beyond collecting air-quality measuremen

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Hot-Spot Alert System, powered by Agentic AI, on the SACAQM website. The new system is designed to automatically identify potential air-quality hot spots by monitoring PM2.5 levels across our network. When pollution levels exceed the defined threshold, the Agentic AI system is triggered. It then investigates the event by analysing the available air-quality measurements, including neighboring data, to determine whether the event

The South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) has been featured by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as part of its International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies coverage. The feature highlights SACAQM’s innovative work combining low-cost air-quality monitoring technologies with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to provide real-time information on air pollution and help predict when air quality may reach dangerous levels. The locally developed

On the 22nd of August, during the WiPiSA Departmental Lunch hosted by the Heidelberg Academy of Science, SACAQM contributed to the Women’s Month celebration by reinforcing the spirit of Physics Day through an engaging exhibition on air quality monitoring. The exhibition introduced attendees to the importance of monitoring pollutants in our environment and explored the physics behind air quality measurements, demonstrating how scientific principles and technology can help us b

SACAQM took the stage at the United Nations Office at Geneva during the AIFOD Geneva Summit 2026, participating in the dialogue “Is Bigger Always Better in AI?” The discussion, held in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations, explored whether increasingly large AI models are always the most effective approach, particularly when cost, accessibility and the needs of developing countries are considered. Drawing on SACAQM’s experience in AI-powered air-quality monitoring, the

In addition to its classical air-quality dashboard, SACAQM has now deployed a new AI-powered dashboard that provides users with enhanced analysis, forecasting, and reporting capabilities. The dashboard analyses hourly and daily exceedances in accordance with the air-quality standards of South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). It also incorporates AI-powered forecasting and automatically generated air-quality reports. Users can select the r

SACAQM was invited to exhibit and present at the Air Aware: Youth Action Accelerator (4–6 August 2026) at Wits University, hosted by SAIIA. The workshop brought together 100 young leaders from Johannesburg's air pollution hotspots to learn about air quality, environmental justice, and community advocacy. We were honoured that Gauteng MEC for Environment, Hon. Ewan Botha, recognised SACAQM's work in advancing low-cost air quality monitoring and expressed his support for expand

The South African Consortium for Air Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) was recently featured on national radio, where the discussion focused on the growing challenge of air pollution and the role of innovative technologies in protecting public health. The interview highlighted SACAQM's AI_r system, an advanced air quality monitoring platform that combines a network of hundreds of low-cost sensing devices with Artificial Intelligence (AI), laser-based sensors, and Internet of Things

SACAQM’s cost-effective air quality monitoring technology is being deployed in the United Kingdom through a collaboration with the University of Leeds as part of the SYNERGIA project. The initiative brings together researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of the Witwatersrand to advance research on air quality and public health. The project will integrate data collected from SACAQM sensors deployed across Leeds and the wider Yorkshire region with public hea

SACAQM has been featured in the French-language science magazine Québec Science, highlighting the project's innovative approach to affordable air quality monitoring in South Africa. The article showcases how SACAQM's low-cost sensor network is helping expand access to air quality data, enabling more comprehensive environmental monitoring while reducing the cost of traditional monitoring systems. The feature emphasizes the importance of accessible air quality monitoring for pr

The South African Consortium for Air Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) has been featured by the Canadian International Development Research Centre (IDRC) as an example of how responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) can address pressing environmental and public health challenges. SACAQM is developing the largest air-quality monitoring network in sub-Saharan Africa, bringing together AI developers, researchers, health experts, businesses, governments, and local communities. The init

We have been covered by CGTN Français in French and CGTN Africa in English. CGTN Français featured SACAQM in a French-language report, highlighting an innovative air quality monitoring project developed by physicists from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) to address severe air pollution in communities such as Kya sand, Johannesburg. Using low-cost sensors deployed in homes and industrial areas, the system provides real-time air quality monitoring and detects pollutio

SACAQM is proud to announce the deployment of 18 low-cost air quality monitoring sensors across key areas in Mpumalanga, including Grootvlei, Balfour, Greylingstad, and the Vaal region. The deployment forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen community-driven air quality monitoring and improve access to environmental data in affected areas. Pictured is Stephen Barrow and Carel Pienaar, who received the 18 devices on behalf of the participating communities. This expanded de

Dr. Chaitali Sinha of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) , and Prof. Jude Kong of the University of Toronto recently showcased the AI_r technology of the South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring at a public event in Ottawa attended by the Secretary of State for International Development, the Honorable Randeep Sarai. The demonstration highlighted how AI_r is helping address one of Africa’s most urgent public health challenges: poor air quality. Thro

SACAQM has been featured in Taiwanese media for its role in helping residents of Johannesburg respond to severe air pollution caused by mining and industrial activities. The report highlights how Johannesburg frequently experiences strong hydrogen sulfide pollution, often recognized by its “rotten egg” smell. This toxic gas mainly comes from coal mining and industrial emissions from regions located up to 400 kilometers east of the city. The pollution has led to several healt

SACAQM is featured by French National Radio, RFI, in a recent French-language report highlighting South Africa’s growing air pollution crisis and the urgent need for real-time public awareness tools. The article, titled “South Africa: an application to measure air quality and protect against fine particles,” emphasizes that exposure to fine particulate matter caused approximately 42,000 deaths in 2023, according to Greenpeace. In response to this worsening situation, research

In a recent feature by APT News, a Youtube channel providing international news coverage, titled “Coal Pollution Chokes Johannesburg as Scientists Launch Air Quality Warning App,” the growing severity of air pollution across Gauteng was brought into sharp focus. Johannesburg continues to face a worsening coal-driven pollution crisis, exacerbated by industrial activity, illegal dump fires, and urban emissions. The report highlights how researchers at University of the Witwater

The SACAQM AI-powered air quality monitoring system has been featured by WION (World Is One News), an Indian English-language global news channel headquartered in Noida, highlighting its growing international visibility. The coverage comes as Johannesburg faces a significant rise in coal-related emissions and deteriorating air quality. In response, South African scientists have developed the country’s first mobile application designed to warn residents about dangerous polluti

The South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) has been featured by the New York-based platform ESG News, highlighting its growing global recognition in the field of AI-driven environmental monitoring. ESG News is a private media and intelligence platform focused on sustainability, ESG investing, sustainable finance, policy, and corporate responsibility, headquartered in New York, US. The coverage emphasizes SACAQM’s innovative approach to tackling air pollut

SACAQM has been featured by TechCentral, highlighting its innovative AI-powered application designed to warn residents about sudden air pollution spikes across South Africa. The TechCentral coverage emphasizes how the SACAQM platform can detect rising pollution events and notify users instantly, helping communities take preventive measures during hazardous air quality episodes. It also highlights the broader impact of the system in supporting environmental monitoring and rais

The SACAQM AI-powered air quality monitoring system, developed by researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand, has been featured by Reuters, with the coverage also translated into Spanish, French, Italian, and German, expanding its international reach and visibility. The coverage comes amid recent spikes in coal-related emissions across Johannesburg, where residents have reported respiratory issues linked to poor air quality. In response, scientists have introduced a n

The AI-driven air quality monitoring system developed by the South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring at University of the Witwatersrand was recently highlighted in a radio interview on Radio 786, showcasing its impact on environmental monitoring in Johannesburg. During the interview, SACAQM explained how the system combines cost effective sensors with artificial intelligence to collect and analyze air quality data in real time, addressing the challenge of transform

The SACAQM AI-powered air quality monitoring system has been featured by the Spanish-language media outlet Noticias de la Tierra , highlighting its innovative role in advancing air quality monitoring in Johannesburg. The coverage presents the AI_r system, developed by the University of the Witwatersrand with international collaborators, as a cost-effective solution combining artificial intelligence with sensor networks for real-time monitoring and forecasting. The article als

The AI-driven air quality monitoring system AI_r, developed by the South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring at University of the Witwatersrand, has been featured by Chinese-language media, showcasing its role in advancing global environmental monitoring technologies. The article, published by the Chinese science outlet Science and Technology Daily , highlights how artificial intelligence is transforming air quality monitoring worldwide. Within this context, the AI_r