SACAQM and AfricaWeather Partner to Advance Air Quality Monitoring
- Wits University
Partnership will bring advanced monitoring, hardware, IoT communications, and artificial intelligence to AfricaWeather’s environmental intelligence platform.
The South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring (SACAQM) has taken another step towards revolutionising air quality monitoring. A new partnership with AfricaWeather will integrate cutting-edge AI_r technology into AfricaWeather’s services.
SACAQM is a consortium of government institutions, research institutions, and industry in a mutually beneficial ecosystem aimed at delivering a cost-effective AI-powered and IoT-enabled air quality monitoring system. It has developed and deployed a novel low-power wireless air quality monitoring and AI-powered analysis system that will improve public health and support the global effort to achieve carbon neutrality goals.
In partnering with AfricaWeather, that has been delivering meteorological services and weather-based risk management solutions for over 17 years, SACAQM will bring advanced monitoring, hardware, IoT communications, and artificial intelligence to AfricaWeather’s environmental intelligence platform. This collaboration will enable real-time air quality information and decision-making capabilities.
“By virtue of being majority-owned by Raise Africa Investments and co-owned by DTN, AfricaWeather is well positioned to augment its inhouse knowledge and experience with the vast array of expertise at its disposal from within the DTN group of companies,” says Raise Africa Investments’ Dr Herb Chikwanda who is a Director of AfricaWeather.
The partnership also introduces generative AI for automated reporting. This innovation simplifies the creation of insightful air quality reports, providing value to users in various sectors.
As part of this collaboration, SACAQM and AfricaWeather will launch a pilot program. The initiative focuses on indoor air quality monitoring and intelligence to complement existing environmental monitoring services.
“This partnership combines our expertise in air quality with AfricaWeather’s leadership in weather intelligence,” says Professor Bruce Mellado, Executive Director of SACAQM, Professor at the School of Physics at Wits University and Senior Scientist at iThemba LABS of the National Research Foundation. “Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve for environmental health.”
SACAQM is supported by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the National Research Foundation, the Canadian International Development Research Centre and other sources.
AfricaWeather is equally optimistic about the collaboration. “Integrating AI_r technology into our offerings enhances our ability to deliver actionable insights,” says Ryan Kobus, AfricaWeather’s CEO. “This pilot is just the beginning of what’s possible.”
Wits Commercial Enterprise is thrilled to be playing a role in facilitating this impactful collaboration. “It is inspiring to see how innovation and partnerships between the Academic and the private sector can address critical environmental challenges, and we look forward to witnessing the far-reaching benefits this initiative will bring,” says Acting CEO, Andrew Hope-Jones.
Indoor air quality is gaining increasing attention as it directly impacts health and productivity. Real-time intelligence helps businesses and institutions identify issues and implement timely solutions.
SACAQM’s AI_r sensors provide affordable, scalable, and reliable monitoring solutions. Combined with generative AI capabilities, the technology offers unparalleled insights for improving air quality.
This partnership emphasizes the importance of collaboration in tackling environmental challenges. It reflects a shared commitment to leveraging technology for a healthier future.
For more information about SACAQM and its innovative solutions, visit www.sacaqm.org. To learn about AfricaWeather’s environmental intelligence services, visit www.africaweather.com.