The data itself comes from trust government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the PurpleAir sensor network. Air quality will appear as a layer in Google Maps, so simply tap the icon in the bottom-right corner and add the layer, as you would with traffic details or Covid-19 hotspots.. Hot weather in the US means one thing: wildfires. To help people avoid the fires, and stay safe in far-off locations that might be affected by travelling smoke, Google is adding a wildfire layer to Maps, located in the same place as the air quality layer.
Google Maps is getting a new update that will help you locate some clean, lovely air. It’s already going out to iPhone and Android users. The upgrade, which was posted on Google’s official blog(opens in new tab), comes at a critical moment in the United States, as temperatures rise. Around 30 million people in the Southwest are bracing for severe heatwaves right now(opens in new tab). Google Maps will provide the Air Quality Index (AQI), a metric that indicates how good or bad the air quality is at a certain location, as well as recommendations for which exercises are appropriate under particular conditions.
Highlights
Adding easily accessible features like these help people access the information that they need when they need, which is especially important during wildfire season in the US when temperatures soar and things can be unpredictable. Max Slater-Robins has written for T3 now on and off for over half a decade, with him fitting in serious study at university in between. Max is a tech expert and as such you’ll find his words throughout T3.com, appearing in everything from reviews and features, to news and deals. Max is specifically a veteran when it comes round to deal hunting, with him seeing out multiple Black Friday campaigns to date.
“We collaborate closely with partners in the weather and air quality space to surface helpful and authoritative information when you need it most,” the company says. “As you head out on hikes, camping trips and other outdoor adventures, we hope these tools help you feel safe and informed so you can enjoy the summer.” These updates might seem small and incremental but millions – if not tens of millions – of people use Google Maps everyday for travel.
