Indian schoolchildren to monitor air quality in Delhi

The Indian government has enlisted the help of 1,000 schoolchildren to monitor the traffic flow around Commonwealth Games venues in a bid to gather information relating to the city's air quality.

For ten days next month, the children will count the number of cars passing through busy junctions using click counters.

Data collected by the young helpers will be used to help forecast and manage air quality during the international sporting event to be held in the city in October.

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) developed the technology being used to carry out the research.

Gufran Beig, a scientist with IITM's System of Air Pollution Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) explained how the children's work will help the institute.

"For air quality management, we need to know the number of vehicles that use the roads around the Games venues on an average basis daily. The data collected by children will help in developing a basic emissions inventory," Mr Beig stated.

Competitions in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are due to be held from October 3rd to 14th, will take place at six venues around Delhi.

These include the Jawaharlal Nehru sports complex and the Talkatora Garden complex.

Posted by Lauren Steadman