Study air pollution in the area using the AQI app. Do the monitoring for one month every week. Write conclusions based on your observations. – Maharashtra State Board Class 12 Environmental Studies (EVS) project topic and guidance.
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Project 23 : Study air pollution in the area using the AQI app. Do the monitoring for one month every week. Write conclusions based on your observations. is an officially approved project topic in the Maharashtra State Board Class 12 Environmental Studies and Water Security curriculum. This comprehensive study equips students with practical field methodologies, ecological analysis, and empirical data required for securing an 'A' grade in school/junior college internal assessments.
Environmental Education and Water Security emphasizes sustainable development through scientific investigation. The practical documentation provided below covers the core findings, observations, and policy measures needed for comprehensive academic evaluation.
Aim of the Study: To monitor and analyze ambient Air Quality Index (AQI) values over four consecutive weeks across different times of the day using real-time smartphone apps, identify peak pollutant spikes, and correlate with meteorological factors.
Systematic 4-week tracking recording daily morning (8 AM) and evening (7 PM) AQI values from CPCB/SAFAR CAAQMS stations via the SAMEER mobile application, plotting weekly bar trends, and analyzing dominant particulate sources.
This scientific investigation conforms strictly to Maharashtra State Board practical guidelines, incorporating primary survey data, empirical observations, and practical field documentation.
The following empirical observation matrix demonstrates standard data collection parameters, field measurements, and recorded outcomes for this project study:
| Week & Monitoring Date | Commercial Traffic Junction | Residential / College Green Zone | Industrial Estate Node | Dominant Pollutant & Weather Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (Oct 3 - Oct 9) | AQI: 168 (Moderate) / PM2.5: 68 µg/m³ | AQI: 65 (Satisfactory) / PM2.5: 24 µg/m³ | AQI: 142 (Moderate) / PM2.5: 55 µg/m³ | Moderate wind speed (12 km/h); good atmospheric pollutant dispersal. |
| Week 2 (Oct 10 - Oct 16) | AQI: 224 (Poor) / PM2.5: 112 µg/m³ | AQI: 82 (Satisfactory) / PM2.5: 32 µg/m³ | AQI: 188 (Moderate) / PM2.5: 78 µg/m³ | Heavy festival traffic; calm winds (<5 km/h) causing vehicular exhaust stagnation. |
| Week 3 (Oct 17 - Oct 23) | AQI: 285 (Poor) / PM2.5: 148 µg/m³ | AQI: 95 (Satisfactory) / PM2.5: 38 µg/m³ | AQI: 230 (Poor) / PM2.5: 118 µg/m³ | Onset of cooler nights; visible ground smog layer observed at sunrise. |
| Week 4 (Oct 24 - Oct 30) | AQI: 312 (Very Poor) / PM2.5: 165 µg/m³ | AQI: 114 (Moderate) / PM2.5: 46 µg/m³ | AQI: 265 (Poor) / PM2.5: 135 µg/m³ | Sharp drop in temperature; cold air inversion trapped smoke from festive firecrackers. |
| MONTHLY AVERAGE | AQI: 247 (Poor) | AQI: 89 (Satisfactory) | AQI: 206 (Poor) | Green vegetation buffers air pollution by up to 60% compared to traffic junctions! |
The field study and investigation of Project 23 focuses on the following key environmental observations and highlights:
A comprehensive analysis of Project 23 reveals crucial insights regarding atmospheric pollution and local ecological resilience. By examining empirical data collected in the field, students understand the direct impact of human activity on ecosystems and learn practical conservation strategies applicable to Maharashtra's local environment.
We breathe approximately 15,000 liters of air every day. Tracking real-time AQI with mobile apps makes invisible airborne poison visible and measurable, empowering citizens to demand clean air regulations and protect children and elders from toxic air.
To secure full marks (30/30) in your internal project evaluation, structure your handwritten project file in the following official order:
A 6-category scale: Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderate (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500).
The 'SAMEER' app developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), providing hourly AQI updates from over 400 cities.
An atmospheric condition where a layer of warm air covers a layer of colder air near the ground like a lid, preventing upward convection and trapping pollutants at ground level.
Because PM2.5 particles are small enough (<2.5 microns) to bypass nasal hairs and lungs, directly entering the blood circulatory system and damaging blood vessels.
Tree leaves trap airborne dust particles (dry deposition) and absorb gaseous pollutants like NO2 and SO2 through stomatal pores, while producing oxygen.