Category Archives: Science

Goat Rodeo News, GRN Roundup, Issue No. 1, Science

How Can we Use AI to Fight Air Pollution?

Air pollution is a persistent and grave issue that plagues the world today. Despite growing attention and efforts towards other environmental concerns such as global warming, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and water resource management, air pollution continues to demand our attention and immediate action.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is responsible for premature deaths of between 3 to 8 million people annually. The air we breathe contains hazardous substances that can lead to respiratory problems, inflammatory diseases, and weakened immune systems. While various regulations have been introduced to curb air pollution and limit the concentration of air pollutants, measurements across

Europe still regularly exceed the safe threshold values for human health and food production. Megacities in Southern and Eastern Asia, Africa, and South America face even more significant challenges, with air pollution levels so high that they pose a severe threat to daily life.

To combat this issue, we must continue to monitor air pollution and develop effective tools for analyzing measurements and predicting air pollutant levels. In recent years, researchers have been investigating how AI can help fight air pollution. The technology’s ability to process and analyze vast amounts of data makes it a powerful tool for detecting and predicting air pollutant levels.

With the help of AI, we can create more accurate and reliable air quality monitoring systems that can identify the sources of pollution and predict future levels of pollution. These systems can provide early warning alerts to vulnerable communities, allowing them to take appropriate countermeasures.

Moreover, AI can assist in identifying the most effective pollution reduction strategies and evaluating their effectiveness. It can also help improve traffic flow management and optimize public transportation routes, reducing emissions in high traffic areas.

Read Also: How Can AI Help Achieve Clean Water?

Expanding Global Air Pollution Monitoring Network with AI and Low-Cost Sensors

Air pollution is a major problem affecting our planet today. It poses a significant threat to human health, the environment, and our planet’s climate. As we continue to grapple with this issue, data becomes a crucial aspect of building effective tools to monitor air pollution. Fortunately, we have air pollution monitoring networks around the world, including fixed stations and mobile platforms. However, the current data available is not sufficient to give us a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

Understanding the Air Pollution Monitoring Network

The Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) database, hosted at Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany, contains data from over 14,000 air pollution measurement sites globally. This data is supplemented by satellite information. This network may suggest that we have comprehensive data on air pollution, but this is far from the truth.

Limitations of Current Monitoring Network

Satellite instruments provide global coverage, but their precision is limited for measurements close to the Earth’s surface, where humans breathe the air. Furthermore, they do not measure frequently enough. The situation is even more dire in many parts of the world, where air quality monitoring stations are almost non-existent. Even in Europe, where the network is relatively dense, there are still large distances between monitoring sites.

Expanding the Monitoring Network with AI and Low-Cost Sensors

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help fill the gaps in the current monitoring network. For instance, AI can interpret measurement signals obtained from modern low-cost sensor devices. These sensors can be used to fill monitoring gaps, especially when used alongside data from traditional monitoring stations. With the right approach, AI can help expand the global air pollution monitoring network.

Read Also: 19 Helpful Uses of AI at Home: Save Time & Money

Benefits of a Comprehensive Monitoring Network

A comprehensive monitoring network can provide real-time data, enable better forecasting, and promote more effective decision-making. With AI’s help, we can collect more accurate and precise data, which is vital for building effective solutions. A comprehensive monitoring network will enable us to track air pollution trends, understand the impact of our actions, and monitor the effectiveness of measures put in place to tackle air pollution.

How Machine Learning is Revolutionizing Environmental Science

Air pollution is a serious problem affecting our environment and public health. Interpretation and forecasting of air pollution require complex numerical models that simulate weather and air pollution chemistry using computer codes encompassing thousands of lines. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), these models are becoming more accessible and accurate.

The Challenges of Using AI for Air Pollution Analysis

Using AI for air pollution analysis poses several unique challenges that differ from those commonly seen in other AI applications. Machine learning algorithms were first tested in the context of local air quality forecasts in the 1990s when computational capacity was significantly less powerful than it is today. As a result, the machine learning results were marginally better than the classical statistical methods at the time.

Revolutionary Advances in Machine Learning for Air Pollution Forecasting

Since 2012, convolutional neural networks have led to breakthroughs in typical AI tasks such as image recognition, and atmospheric scientists have become interested in AI again. Several studies have appeared since 2018 that demonstrate how advanced machine learning techniques can generate high-quality air pollution forecasts locally.

Read Also: Machine Learning: A Beginner’s Guide

A Hybrid Approach to Air Pollution Forecasting

Machine learning models will soon provide alternative and cheaper solutions for air pollution forecasting over a region. The research conducted in the framework of the ERC project IntelliAQ indicates that such systems might work best in a hybrid approach where weather information is taken from traditional numerical simulations (i.e. weather forecasts) while air quality information is obtained from measurements.

AI and Air Pollution Management: Navigating the Opportunities and Risks

Air pollution has become a pressing issue in many parts of the world, and it’s crucial to find effective ways to manage it. One of the most promising developments in this field is the integration of AI into air pollution monitoring systems. With low-cost sensors and hybrid models, AI can provide much more detailed air pollution maps, allowing for more targeted mitigation measures. However, as with any new technology, there are both opportunities and risks associated with using AI in air pollution management.

Opportunities of AI in Air Pollution Management

AI-based pollution monitoring has the potential to revolutionize how we track and manage air pollution. By combining physiological sensors and medical information systems, it may be possible to directly measure inhaled pollutant doses. This can be particularly helpful for vulnerable individuals who need to plan their outdoor activities or avoid hazardous environments.

Moreover, AI-based air quality information is already being offered by several companies across Europe and other parts of the world. These systems can provide real-time data on air quality, enabling people to take appropriate measures to protect their health.

Another advantage of AI-based air pollution monitoring is its cost-effectiveness. Traditional air quality monitoring systems can be expensive to install and maintain. In contrast, low-cost sensors combined with AI can provide much more granular data at a fraction of the cost.

Risks of AI in Air Pollution Management

While the potential benefits of AI-based air pollution management are clear, there are also risks to be aware of. The quality of some AI-based systems is still questionable, and there is little information available on how well they work in practice. Blindly trusting such systems can lead to erroneous conclusions and potentially harmful actions.

Another concern is the potential for AI-based systems to exacerbate existing inequalities. For example, vulnerable populations may not have access to the technology needed to monitor air pollution levels in their area. Moreover, the data generated by AI-based systems may not always be transparent, making it difficult for individuals to understand how air quality is being monitored and managed.

Conclusion

AI has the potential to revolutionize how we monitor and manage air pollution, but it is crucial to navigate the opportunities and risks carefully. To maximize the benefits of AI-based air pollution monitoring, we must first understand its capabilities and limitations. We must also ensure that the technology is used in an ethical and transparent way, with a focus on promoting public health and minimizing harm. By doing so, we can make significant progress in reducing air pollution and improving the health and well-being of people around the world.

Picture of a Goat with a gas mask in heavy air pollution. Photorealistic
Picture of a Goat with a gas mask in heavy air pollution. Photorealistic
Goat Rodeo News, Issue No. 1, Science

Mni Wašté Water Company projects and tips for conservation

This Earth Day, the West River Eagle is pleased to highlight the Mni Wašté Water Company and the critical infrastructure it provides to our communities.

Photo courtesy of USDA

Mni Wašté Water Company is a tribally-chartered entity and operates the treatment plant, water distribution system, and all other functions of the regional water system. All of these systems work together to provide clean drinking water to 14,000 people in 17 communities spread across Cheyenne River. 

The history of water management in the area is complicated. In 1948, without the consultation of local tribes, the Federal government passed the Pick-Sloan Act, which led to the damming of the Missouri River. The damming flooded 8% of the reservation, including portions on the river bank, and forced residents to relocate from their homes near the river to Eagle Butte. 

According to a 2021 interview with Bob Walters in The Architectural League of New York, “Our old agency was down along the river, and now we’re up here on this rock called Eagle Butte where there’s no trees. There’s nothing… Our people were protected on that river.”

Following the move to Eagle Butte, access to water was greatly restricted, in part due to the great distance water had to travel. Originally, the water intake for the community came from the Cheyenne River, which was being heavily polluted and silted in by industry upriver. Thanks to the hard work and advocacy of many community members, the intake was relocated deep within the Missouri River. 

In 2019 ground broke on a new water treatment plant and trunkline stemming from the Missouri River. Mni Wašté Water Company has been working on this and other large-scale improvements to the water system to support current and future growth and development on the reservation. 

This plant is a central part of the development plan for the area, allowing for the improvement of current water-flow problems and the expansion of the current service area. This is critically important because the lack of access to potable water is a major limiting factor for the development of homes and businesses in the area, which in turn limits economic development. 

In addition, the construction of the Mni Wašté Water Tower was recently completed. The tower’s “Mni Wašté” (Good Water) message is easily visible across the city of Eagle Butte. This nearly 200-ft tall, two-million-gallon capacity water tower has the capability to serve the entire Mni Wašté System now and moving into the future. 

In 2022, Mni Wašté Water Company received a grant to replace an undersized pipeline along Highway 63. The undersized piping causes high friction loss and low-pressure issues. Replacing the pipeline will allow residents throughout a wider area to get water and will facilitate the building of new homes and businesses. 

While the capacity is now there, the undersized piping still creates issues in the area. A bulk water filling station was installed at the base of the water tower to make it easier for individuals to haul water to fill home systems, such as cisterns provided by IHS. 

In his interview, Walters stressed how important water is to both the planet and the people. He said, “Culturally, water is sacred, and we all have to have water to live… Water is used for every one of our ceremonies. Water was the first medicine that our people had and today we still use it in the same fashion for our ceremonies.” 

Water Conservation Tips

Conservation of limited water resources is an important part of the picture, and especially important for homes and individuals that are still underserved.

Mni Wašté Water offers conservation tips to preserve water resources and lower your water bill. There are many areas in which individuals can reduce their water footprint. 

In the Kitchen: 

– When washing dishes, don’t let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

– For cold drinks keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap

– Use a small pan of cold water when cleaning vegetables. Collect the water you use for rinsing and reuse it to water house plants.

– Use only a little water in the pot and put a lid on it for cooking most food. 

– Designate one glass for your drinking water each day or refill a water bottle. This will cut down on the number of glasses to wash.

– Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator.

In the Bathroom: 

– Shorten your shower by a minute or two to save up to 150 gallons per month.

– Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month.

– Take a shower instead of taking a bath

– Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month.

– Reduce the level of the water being used in a bathtub by one or two inches if a shower is not available.

– Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the water in the tank, but do not flush the toilet. Watch to see if the coloring appears in the bowl within a few minutes. If it does, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.

– Use a toilet tank displacement device such as a toilet dam, bag, or an alternative method such as a plastic bottle with stones. This will reduce the volume of water in the tank but will still provide enough for flushing. 

– Never use the toilet to dispose of cleansing tissues, cigarette butts, or other trash. This wastes water and also places an unnecessary load on the sewage treatment plant or septic tank.

– When shaving, fill the lavatory basin with hot water instead of letting the water run continuously.

– Place water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.

For Outdoor Use

– Water only when needed. Do not over-water.

– Water lawns early in the morning during the hotter summer months.

– Adjust sprinkler heads as necessary to avoid waste, runoff and ensure proper coverage.

– Use drip irrigation systems for bedded plants, trees, or shrubs, or turn soaker hoses upside-down so the holes are on the bottom. 

– Condition the soil with mulch or compost before planting grass or flowerbeds so that water will soak in rather than run off.

For a more comprehensive list, please visit https://mniwaste.com/conservation-tips