Beijing city to use IBM forecasting expertise to collect air pollution data
.jpg "With population of over 21 million, China's Beijing is one of the country’s largest and most polluted municipalities (Photo credit: Greenpeace)")
Tech giant IBM on Monday signed a 10-year agreement with China to solve the country’s pressing environmental problems because of rapid industrialisation. The company has promised to deployall its researchers around the world in the 10-year initiative to support China transform its national energy systems while protect the health of citizens.
The company will use its advanced weather forecasting and cloud computing technologies to help China in air quality management, renewable energy forecasting, and energy optimisation for industry.
“China has made great achievements and contributed much to the world’s economic growth over the past 30 years. It now has an opportunity to lead the world in sustainable energy and environmental management,” said D C Chien, chairman and CEO, IBM Greater China Group. “While other nations waited until their economies were fully developed before taking comprehensive action to address environmental issues, China can leverage IBM’s most advanced information technologies to help transform its energy infrastructures in parallel with its growth,” added Chien.
The Green Horizon initiative will start with Beijing, which will draw on IBM’s forecasting expertise to collect real-time emissions data to predict smog build-ups. “It is about how we can help cities improve management based on Big Data, and better predict (pollution) with accuracy so the government can take proactive action,” said Xiaowei Shen, China director of IBM Research.
Populated by over 21 million people, Beijing is one of the country’s largest and most polluted municipalities. It has one of the worst air qualities in the world, with pollution levels often rising to hazardous levels.
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