IIT Kanpur establishes CoE named ATMAN for monitoring air-quality

One of the projects under ATMAN, AMRIT, will deploy a dense Sensor Ambient Air Quality Monitor network with 1,400 nodes across rural areas in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has established a Center of Excellence (CoE) named ATMAN (Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Air-quality iNdicators). The CoE focuses on building indigenous low-cost sensor manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities to enhance air quality across urban and rural areas of India.

The CoE ATMAN aligns with the vision of the Principal Scientific Advisor of India, aiming to translate sustainable technologies and business models into practical products and services accessible to millions globally.

Supported by philanthropic entities, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Open Philanthropy and the Clean Air Fund, ATMAN aims to address critical air quality challenges with cutting-edge technology.

Prof. S Ganesh, Officiating Director, IIT Kanpur, said “IIT Kanpur has taken significant strides in the battle against air pollution. This initiative of establishment of the Center of Excellence—ATMAN has firmly positioned the institute at the forefront of efforts to combat air pollution. Through ATMAN, IIT Kanpur is dedicated to the meticulous evaluation of health risks associated with air pollutants, as well as a comprehensive review of air quality standards.”

There are several projects that are currently underway at the ATMAN. The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring of Rural Areas using Indigenous Technology (AMRIT) is a flagship project that will deploy a dense Sensor Ambient Air Quality Monitor (SAAQM) network with 1,400 nodes across rural areas in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This initiative is the first of its kind to monitor air quality comprehensively in these regions, where data has been limited to cities and towns. The CoE team will be working with the State Pollution Control Board of Bihar and Department of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of Uttar Pradesh on AMRIT to enhance air quality action in these states.

The Dynamic Hyper-local Source Apportionment (DHSA) is a cost effective approach to source apportionment that is currently being pioneered in Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The data from DHSA will enable city authorities to make informed decisions in their air quality action planning. The long-term vision is to scale DHSA systems across cities in India to inform about emission and sources of air pollution on a dynamic scale based on this project.

The PM2.5 Prediction and Airshed Management is a project that utilizes micro-satellite imagery, sensor-based ambient air quality networks, and machine learning to predict PM2.5 levels at finer resolutions. Additionally, the CoE is developing an airshed approach to address air pollution on a larger scale with data-driven policy decisions.

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