Microsoft and IBM are getting great benefits out of the crippling air pollution in China, as it is bringing in quite a bit of business. Both businesses, some of the largest in the world, are looking to tap the air quality forecasting business.
Air Pollution in China: Beijing Suffers Two Red Alerts in December 2015
When red alerts for air pollution are issued in Chinese cities, they’re expected to be shut down for more than three days. This limits the amount of people on the street and the amount of cars allowed to operate. In essence, the city is dead and citizens are confined to their homes.
These alerts rely entirely on pollution forecasting. This is becoming very important politically, and Communist Party leaders are looking for better ways to accurately predict pollution readings to better protect Chinese citizens.
How Will Beijing Host the Winter Olympics?
This is of particular concern since Beijing is set to host the Winter Olympics in 2022. Microsoft has their eye on this business, already setting gears to design an air quality forecast service.
If predicting the weather has already been advanced to be handled from anywhere, predicting air pollution readings cannot be too difficult. It’s a matter of bringing in a few more variables and re-submitting all the information.
Cognitive Computing Will Design Air Pollution Index Predictions
Microsoft and IBM can help China through their advances in cognitive computing. These are composed of machines that are programmed to make advances to modeling on their own. It could even predict air quality indexes 10 days in advance, as regular weather forecasts do. This computer would use data from the weather, traffic and land use, real time pollution levels and wind readings. The data would rely on outlets from social media posts and government controlled monitoring stations.
This can be of wonderful help to the Chinese people. It can help local governments pinpoint which areas to close off and which schools and airports within them. It would also help restrict car movement in certain areas.
IBM and Microsoft Protect China
Microsoft and IBM are making wise moves in moving in on this business, but it will take some time to work out the exact measures that need to be taken to get there. Helping China get cleaner air is more important than ever, since the country still hasn’t peaked their emissions. Hopefully these two companies can give them a valuable helping hand.
