In Search of a “Social-AQI”

Globally, datafication is being adopted as a solution for socio-environmental issues, with the belief that it will democratize decision-making by simplifying knowledge through data. However, this process can further alienate marginalized groups from governance by disregarding practical exposure leve...

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Main Authors: Ruchi Dwivedi, Muzamil Yaqoob, Aasim Khan, Praveen Priyadarshi, Saad Ahmad, Sudhir Attri, Raghava Mutharaju
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud 2023-09-01
Series:South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/8768
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author Ruchi Dwivedi
Muzamil Yaqoob
Aasim Khan
Praveen Priyadarshi
Saad Ahmad
Sudhir Attri
Raghava Mutharaju
author_facet Ruchi Dwivedi
Muzamil Yaqoob
Aasim Khan
Praveen Priyadarshi
Saad Ahmad
Sudhir Attri
Raghava Mutharaju
author_sort Ruchi Dwivedi
collection DOAJ
description Globally, datafication is being adopted as a solution for socio-environmental issues, with the belief that it will democratize decision-making by simplifying knowledge through data. However, this process can further alienate marginalized groups from governance by disregarding practical exposure levels and the sociopolitical contexts in which people live and engage at the community level. In this paper, we use community participation as a tool to develop the Social Air Quality Index (S-AQI), which shapes neighborhood air pollution mapping and monitoring in Delhi. We first question the impact of datafication on air pollution quality measurements and challenge the claim that air quality governance is possible simply through the deployment of high-tech devices and AQI standardization, which is often used to produce and share data about air pollution across Delhi. Instead, we propose an alternative community-oriented methodology and incorporate an interactive approach that relies on public workshops, offline questionnaires, and low-cost sensors to engage with six neighborhoods. Through this intervention-based approach, we seek to explore how to develop AQI understanding among local stakeholders and identify pathways to build greater social awareness and knowledge of AQI as a means of dealing with the pollution crisis.
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series South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
spelling doaj-art-4efdfee32893475099b21d59464f7b3f2025-08-20T01:55:05ZengCentre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du SudSouth Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal1960-60602023-09-013010.4000/samaj.8768In Search of a “Social-AQI”Ruchi DwivediMuzamil YaqoobAasim KhanPraveen PriyadarshiSaad AhmadSudhir AttriRaghava MutharajuGlobally, datafication is being adopted as a solution for socio-environmental issues, with the belief that it will democratize decision-making by simplifying knowledge through data. However, this process can further alienate marginalized groups from governance by disregarding practical exposure levels and the sociopolitical contexts in which people live and engage at the community level. In this paper, we use community participation as a tool to develop the Social Air Quality Index (S-AQI), which shapes neighborhood air pollution mapping and monitoring in Delhi. We first question the impact of datafication on air pollution quality measurements and challenge the claim that air quality governance is possible simply through the deployment of high-tech devices and AQI standardization, which is often used to produce and share data about air pollution across Delhi. Instead, we propose an alternative community-oriented methodology and incorporate an interactive approach that relies on public workshops, offline questionnaires, and low-cost sensors to engage with six neighborhoods. Through this intervention-based approach, we seek to explore how to develop AQI understanding among local stakeholders and identify pathways to build greater social awareness and knowledge of AQI as a means of dealing with the pollution crisis.https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/8768Delhidataficationcommunity participationlow-cost sensorAQI
spellingShingle Ruchi Dwivedi
Muzamil Yaqoob
Aasim Khan
Praveen Priyadarshi
Saad Ahmad
Sudhir Attri
Raghava Mutharaju
In Search of a “Social-AQI”
South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
Delhi
datafication
community participation
low-cost sensor
AQI
title In Search of a “Social-AQI”
title_full In Search of a “Social-AQI”
title_fullStr In Search of a “Social-AQI”
title_full_unstemmed In Search of a “Social-AQI”
title_short In Search of a “Social-AQI”
title_sort in search of a social aqi
topic Delhi
datafication
community participation
low-cost sensor
AQI
url https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/8768
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AT aasimkhan insearchofasocialaqi
AT praveenpriyadarshi insearchofasocialaqi
AT saadahmad insearchofasocialaqi
AT sudhirattri insearchofasocialaqi
AT raghavamutharaju insearchofasocialaqi