KUCHING: The effective use of air quality monitoring data can support the city’s aspiration to be recognised as a Healthy City, said public health physician Professor Dr Helmy Hazmi.
Dr Helmy said real-time air quality displays, such as those shown on ESG Smart Poles, can play an important role in increasing public awareness of air pollution and its health risks, particularly among people who rely on visible and numerical information to guide their daily activities.
“The Smart Pole reflects the authorities’ intention to provide immediate, easy-to-understand information so that people can make timely decisions, such as reducing outdoor activity or returning home when air quality is poor.
“This is particularly relevant for people who do not regularly check smartphone apps or are less sensitive to early symptoms of air pollution exposure,” he said when contacted by Sarawak Tribune.
Beyond awareness, Dr Helmy said that the Smart Poles also function as an on-site early warning system, particularly in public spaces such as parks.
“By providing immediate air quality information at the point of exposure, users can shorten their duration of exposure by leaving the area or reducing physical activity.
This, he said, is especially important for vulnerable groups, including children, older adults and people with asthma, chronic lung disease or cardiovascular conditions.
“Reducing exposure time can help lower the risk of acute respiratory symptoms as well as cardiovascular stress” he explained.
Dr Helmy added that similar air quality monitoring systems, often described as low-cost hyperlocal air quality monitoring networks, are already widely used in cities such as London, Singapore and several cities in the United States.
“A key lesson for Sarawak is that these systems should not be treated merely as smart-city showcase technologies.
“The data collected must be actionable. For example, it should be used to trigger health advisories, inform urban and traffic planning, identify pollution hotspots and detect air-quality disparities between neighbourhoods.
“When used in this way, the system offers better return on investment and supports Kuching’s aspiration to be a Healthy City, rather than serving only a symbolic role,” he said.
To ensure the data from ESG Smart Poles translates into real improvements in air quality and public health outcomes, Helmy stressed the need for several additional measures.
“First, regular maintenance and calibration are essential. In a hot and humid climate like Kuching, sensors are prone to drift and malfunction.
“Without proper maintenance, the data may become unreliable, which can undermine public trust, especially if poor air quality is displayed on an otherwise clear day,” he said.
Secondly, he added that the data must be clearly linked to action.
“Residents need to feel the tangible impact from the system. For example, air-quality data should inform zoning decisions, traffic management and the future placement of pollution-generating activities.
“There is little value in monitoring air quality if residential areas continue to be exposed to preventable sources of pollution without intervention,” he added.
