AIRNow-International: The Future of the United States Real-time Air Quality Reporting and Forecasting Program and GEOSS participation

摘要

AIRNow-International is poised to become the centerpiece of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) real-time air quality reporting and forecasting program. The system is a redesign of the AIRNow information technology infrastructure that distributes current air quality information for the United States and Canada. The AIRNow-International software suite is being built to support and embrace the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) concept.AIRNow-International is more than just an information technology system however. A major goal is to build the environmental community by sharing the technology with interested partners. Establishing partnerships with other organizations and governments may help to facilitate the broader sharing of air quality information around the globe. In fact multi-language capability will permit Shanghai, China to pilot the first AIRNow-International system at the 2010 World Expo for the public reporting of current air quality.