Imagine stepping outside for recess and inhaling toxic pollutants that could harm your long-term health. For students in Richmond and other Bay Area communities, this isn’t hypothetical , it’s daily reality.

Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a groundbreaking app that provides real-time air quality data to help protect vulnerable communities. The Bay Area Community Air Quality Map uses innovative technology to offer hyperlocal pollution readings, allowing schools and residents to make informed decisions about outdoor activities.

The app addresses a critical problem: many neighborhoods near industrial sites like oil refineries experience significantly higher pollution levels. In Richmond, where Peres K-8 School sits surrounded by petroleum infrastructure and highways, asthma rates are nearly double the state average.

Unlike existing air quality maps, this tool corrects for environmental variations like fog and combines multiple sensor readings to provide accurate, street-level information. Users can quickly understand air quality risks through an intuitive, color-coded interface that mimics traffic signals.

Kristina Hill, the project’s lead researcher, hopes the app will create a cultural shift in how communities approach environmental health. “Everybody who’s going to go on a run or a bike ride should check the map first,” she explains.

The project emerged from collaboration with community advocates who intimately understand local environmental challenges. Marisol Cantú from the Richmond Progressive Alliance notes that environmental awareness is deeply ingrained in these communities: “It’s in our blood. It’s in how we move”.

As federal environmental protections become increasingly uncertain, tools like this app provide critical local resilience. By empowering residents with real-time data, communities can take immediate steps to protect their health and demand accountability from polluting industries.

The app is currently in beta and will be refined before broader school adoption. Its development represents a promising intersection of academic research and community needs , breaking down traditional barriers between ivory tower institutions and grassroots environmental justice efforts.