AirQo API
The AirQo API gives you programmatic access to air quality measurements from our sensor network across Africa. Whether you are building a public dashboard, powering a city's environmental platform, or integrating air quality data into a research workflow, the API is designed to fit your use case.
Who is this for?
| I am a... | I should use... |
|---|---|
| Partner or organisation managing devices across multiple locations | Cohort ID Access → |
| City or municipality monitoring a defined geographical area | Grid ID Access → |
| Developer who needs historical or raw sensor data at scale | Analytics API → |
| Researcher or planner who needs predictive air quality data | Forecast API → |
Available data types
| Data Type | Resolution | Use case | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly calibrated measurements | Hourly | Dashboards, monitoring | Free+ |
| Raw sensor readings | Minute-level | Advanced analysis | Standard+ |
| Daily aggregated data | Daily | Trend analysis, reporting | Standard+ |
| Spatial heatmaps | Per grid area | Visualisations, city maps | Free+ |
| Air quality forecasts | Hourly & daily (7-day) | Planning, alerts | Premium |
How data access is organised
All measurements can be fetched through four different grouping methods:
- Site ID — a specific physical monitoring location
- Device ID — a specific sensor unit, wherever it is deployed
- Cohort ID — a custom group of devices, typically managed by one organisation
- Grid ID — all public devices within a defined geographical boundary
Partners and organisations typically use Cohort ID because it groups their devices across regions. Cities and municipalities typically use Grid ID because it captures all sensors within their administrative boundary.
Base URL
All API requests are made to:
https://api.airqo.net
Authentication
All endpoints require authentication via a token query parameter. Pass your SECRET TOKEN as ?token=YOUR_SECRET_TOKEN on every request — both GET and POST.
See Authentication & Setup for step-by-step instructions on generating your credentials.