Air quality alerts program at MPCA wins innovation award

Minnesotans can now better plan their outdoor activities thanks to an expanded air quality alerts program developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The statewide program won a 2017 Minnesota State Government Innovation Award from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and it saves the state tens of thousands of dollars annually.

In the photo on the right, MPCA’s air quality index forecast team analyzes data to prepare daily alerts. Team members, from left to right, are: David Brown, Steve Irwin, Daniel Dix and Dorian Kvale.

Six months ago, MPCA meteorologists began issuing daily air quality index (AQI) forecasts for 17 locations across the state. That's an increase from two. According to MPCA Air Quality Meteorologist Steve Irwin, the smoke from the “mega fires” out West over the past few years has impacted air quality here. "We wanted to have some way to get the word out to all of Minnesota."

Irwin added, “We want to especially help people sensitive to air quality – people with asthma and other respiratory illnesses, children and the elderly, folks who are working or exercising outside – be able to plan ahead of time so they can adjust their activities based on the air quality.”

Irwin and his MAPE colleagues use free, automated weather predictions from three online sources. They then combine this with artificial intelligence to make the forecasts. Irwin, who used to forecast air quality in Kansas City, said, “We’ve basically cut down the AQI process that used to take hours down to minutes here in Minnesota.”

MPCA’s new AQI forecasting program is saving the state $50,000 annually in external forecasting fees. It could potentially save up to $200,000 for a similar statewide forecasting service. Later this month, Irwin and fellow Air Quality Meteorologist Daniel Dix will travel to a national conference in Austin, TX, to talk about MPCA’s AQI forecasting program.

MPCA has partnered with the departments of Health and Transportation so they can get the word out to vulnerable populations and commuters. MPCA has also partnered with the National Weather Service so the agency’s alerts are posted on the service’s website within minutes of release.

Minnesotans across the state may receive MPCA’s air quality forecasts and alerts one of these ways:

• Minnesota Air mobile app is available for free from the Apple, Android and Windows app stores. When push notifications are enabled, users will be notified whenever an air quality alert is issued.
• MPCA's website has current conditions, three-day forecasts and discussion for locations across the state.
• Twitter handle is @mpca_aqi