IIT-KGP APP HELPS COMMUTERS PICK 'GREENER' ROUTES ON THE ROAD

The DRUM app has shown promise in simulations and will soon start real-world tests; its makers are also exploring integrating data from low-cost sensors on street poles and those carried by commuters

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Ambient air pollution is responsible for 7.2% of deaths in major Indian cities every year. There's reason to believe airborne particulate matter can cut the life expectancy of Indians by up to five years.

But traffic-related pollution is usually much worse than what urban sensors report. Researchers have estimated commuting takes up only around 8% of a person's day but accounts for 33% of their pollution exposure.

IIT Kharagpur associate professor Arkopal Kishore Goswami, his PhD student Kapil Kumar Meena, and intern Aditya Kumar Singh (from IIITM Gwalior) found that while traffic significantly affects commuters' health, few were aware of its actual risks.

Realising access to information was key, the team created the Dynamic Route Planning for Urban Green Mobility (or DRUM) web app. It's like Google Maps but with the added feature of allowing users pick routes based on air quality and energy efficiency.

Why India needs to clean its air

Cleaner commute

DRUM gives users five route options: shortest, fastest, least exposure to air pollution (LEAP), least energy consumption route (LECR), and a combination of all four factors called the suggested route.

These options are based on real-time air and traffic data. When applied to Delhi, the LEAP route reduced exposure by over 50% in Central Delhi while increasing commute time by 40%. LECR meanwhile helped reduce energy consumption by 28% in South Delhi.