Frequently Asked Questions

Proyecto Respira is an open air quality monitoring and forecasting platform that lets you understand, interpret and act on air pollution through environmental sensors, forecasts, alerts and health recommendations.

Many apps show regional data or readings from distant stations. Proyecto Respira provides information specific to the place where the sensor is installed, plus forecasts, health recommendations, automatic alerts and a measurement history to support decision-making.

Anyone can access the information for free from the website or the mobile app. In addition, institutions, companies and organizations can install their own sensor to get localized, tailored information.

Yes. The public platform and the mobile app are free for everyone. The sensor installation program for institutions is a paid service that includes installation, monitoring, maintenance and access to additional features.

Air quality indicates how clean or polluted the air we breathe is. It is calculated from different pollutants, mainly particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which can affect health when they reach high concentrations.

Air pollution is often invisible. Very small particles such as PM2.5 can affect health even when the sky looks clear.

Prolonged exposure to polluted air can cause eye and airway irritation, coughing and difficulty breathing, and can worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with respiratory conditions are the most sensitive groups.

Depending on the pollution level, the platform recommends concrete actions such as:

• Reducing outdoor physical activity.
• Rescheduling sports activities.
• Protecting sensitive groups.
• Keeping doors and windows closed when appropriate.
• Sharing recommendations with students, families or staff.

Proyecto Respira uses international air quality standards to classify the risk level and pair every measurement with practical recommendations for the public.

Proyecto Respira uses community-grade air quality sensors with continuous monitoring of particulate pollutants and environmental variables. The model may vary depending on the type of institution and the scope of the contracted service.

Depending on the model installed, the sensor can measure:

• PM2.5
• PM10
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Atmospheric pressure
• Other environmental parameters available on the device.

Coverage depends on the environment where the device is installed. As a reference, international bodies such as the EPA and the WHO consider that one station represents roughly 1 to 4 km² in urban areas, although this value can vary with topography, urban density, nearby buildings, wind and nearby pollution sources.

For this reason, Proyecto Respira recommends reading the measurements as representative of the area immediately around the sensor, not of an entire city.

The sensors used by Proyecto Respira offer high accuracy for continuous monitoring and follow standards widely used by community air quality networks. Like any measuring instrument, they can show small variations compared to reference stations, especially under certain environmental conditions.

Proyecto Respira runs calibration, maintenance and quality control processes to guarantee reliable measurements.

The sensor must be installed in an open location with good air circulation, away from direct pollution sources or obstacles that could distort the readings, such as steam or smoke. Proyecto Respira supports the institution in choosing the best installation point.

The device continuously monitors its own operating status. In the event of a failure, Proyecto Respira runs the corresponding diagnosis and arranges maintenance or replacement when needed, according to the terms of the contracted service.

Yes. It requires periodic preventive maintenance to guarantee the quality of the measurements.

Because air pollution is not always visible and can affect health, learning and outdoor activities. Having local information makes it possible to decide based on objective data rather than on visual perception or news reports alone.

The service is not just a sensor. It includes:

• Installation.
• Continuous monitoring.
• Maintenance.
• Web platform.
• Mobile app.
• Automatic alerts.
• Monthly reports.
• Measurement history.
• Recommendations to support decision-making.

Proyecto Respira turns environmental data into information that is useful for decision-making. The platform includes practical recommendations, interpreted reports, alerts and visualizations that make it possible to act quickly to protect the health of students, staff and communities.

The Sensor Leasing program includes:

• Sensor installation.
• Initial setup.
• Maintenance.
• Continuous monitoring.
• Access to the web platform.
• Mobile app.
• Automatic alerts.
• Monthly reports.
• Technical support.

The service covers supplying the sensor, its installation, maintenance, platform access, reports and technical support. Civil works, special electrical infrastructure or requirements outside the project's scope may be quoted separately where applicable.

The institution fills out the request form on Proyecto Respira. After that:

1. We analyze the institution's needs.
2. We present a commercial proposal.
3. We run a demonstration of the project.
4. Once the proposal is approved, we install the sensor, configure the platform and deliver the initial training.

Once the commercial proposal is approved and the technical visit is scheduled, installation and initial setup can normally be completed in a single day, depending on the characteristics of the site.

No. Proyecto Respira is designed so that anyone can easily interpret the information through indicators, recommendations and alerts.

Anyone can follow a specific sensor from the Proyecto Respira mobile app and receive push notifications when air quality reaches the levels defined for that sensor.

Initially each device can follow one sensor as a favorite. You can change the sensor you follow at any time from the app.

Yes. Anyone who installs the Proyecto Respira mobile app or visits the website can check the air quality of a region or of a specific sensor whenever that information is public.

Proyecto Respira does more than report the state of the air: it also shows recommendations tailored to the pollution level recorded, helping institutions and citizens make decisions that protect health.

The platform only collects the information needed to provide the service. Air quality monitoring does not involve capturing personal information about the people near the sensor.

Public information can be consulted from the web platform and the mobile app whenever the sensor is publicly accessible. Some additional features, such as institutional reports or specific settings, are available only to the institution responsible for the sensor.

The measurements correspond to the sensor installed at the institution and are part of the Proyecto Respira monitoring network. Data use and publication follow the terms of service and the project's open data policy where applicable.