Beijing now has 35 air monitoring stations, which provide real-time data about the city's air quality, according to reports.
A network of 35 technologically advanced stations is already in operation in central urban districts. For instance, the Olympic Sports Center station features probes to collect and transmit particulate matter in the air, which is later analyzed by machines. The machines work simultaneously, determining the real-time data of air pollutants including CO, SO2, NOX, O3, PM10 and PM2.5, according to Zhang Xin, senior engineer at the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Monitoring Center.
The 35 stations have different functions, such as evaluating the city's environment, monitoring the air quality of relatively unpolluted areas, transferring air quality data between stations and monitoring traffic pollution. Data from all 35 stations will be sent to a comprehensive atmospheric observation laboratory. It will also be published online in real time.