New Delhi: After announcing its road rationing plan that allows plying of private vehicles with even and odd registration numbers on alternate days, the Delhi government has now roped in technology major IBM to study and collect data on the effect of vehicular traffic on the quality of air in a bid to tackle rising air pollution levels in the national capital.

IBM, which has been developing artificial intelligence to help fight Beijing’s toxic air pollution, will also join hands with Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the state government, to understand the link between traffic patterns and smog in the Delhi so that decisions related to improving air quality can be backed with modelling.

IBM Joins DDC for a three-month pilot programme which will provide the government with relevant insights and recommend suitable policies to improve the air quality of the city where air pollution levels have shot up to ‘severe’ warning category, as reported by ET.

“Vehicular traffic and dust are two main sources of pollution in the national capital. The study will help policymakers come up with ways to deal with it, “IBM India vice president and chief technology officer, Ramesh Gopinath told ET.

DDC vice chairman Ashish Khetan said, “To optimize the government’s action plan to tackle air pollution, it needs accurate, real-time insight about the situation on the ground and a better understanding of how to respond in the most effective and sustainable way.”

IBM will put sensors in several locations across the city to collect data and provide accurate and real time info about the ground situation. It will also use satellite monitoring technologies to identify other sources of pollution apart from vehicular traffic and dust. The move will provide a better understanding of how to respond in the most effective and sustainable way.