WeatherBug Taps AI to Put Hyperlocal Air Quality Updates in Palm of Hand

New technology uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to
give people smarter air quality insights for better health, wellness,
and productivity

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#AAFA—
WeatherBug

(a

GroundTruth

company), a leading weather site and mobile app used by 20 million
unique monthly users, today unveiled its

Air
Quality

solution to give users accurate information about the
air they breathe at street level. From traffic-related smog and
industrial pollution to forest fires and pollen, this timely update
comes ahead of peak allergy and pollution season, benefiting the
millions of people affected daily by air quality changes.

Nearly 40% of US population live in areas with unhealthy levels of
air quality

Numerous

scientific
studies

link air pollution to various health problems. The
elderly, children and those with heart and respiratory diseases are at
greater risk for developing air pollution-related health effects due to
weakened immune and respiratory systems. While pollution levels have
decreased over the years due to regulations, remaining particles in the
air still pose serious threats. These particles are generated from
vehicle exhaust and industrial usage, such as coal-fired power plants
and petroleum refineries.

Additionally, a recent report from the American Lung Association
estimates that more than

125
million Americans live in areas with high levels of ozone or particle
pollution

. This puts them at risk for aggravated asthma,
difficulty breathing and future cardiovascular problems. Major US cities
such as Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia
all reported higher ozone days in the recent years.

Air pollution is the fourth leading cause for premature deaths, costing
our global economy

$225
billion lost in labor

according to the latest study by the World
Bank and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).

“We often take the air we breathe for granted. Even though the air is
cleaner than it was two decades ago, air quality still remains an issue
for a large number of the population in North America. Against the
backdrop of
rising
respiratory diseases
, air pollution impacts many of us – driving the
need for more sophisticated and easy-to-access tools,” said

Olivier
Vincent, President & General Manager, WeatherBug

. “With
spring here, people with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions,
diabetes, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. By
launching our Air Quality feature, our goal is to arm people with a
smarter tool so they can stay safer and healthier, more effectively.”

Benefits of new WeatherBug Air Quality feature at a glance

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning,
WeatherBug Air Quality delivers hyperlocal observations and forecasts.
Benefits include:

• Hyperlocal, street-level views
  – See surrounding air quality
  changes, whether you step out of the subway in Times Square or into
  the Redwood forest in Yosemite through a colored heat map; forecast
  updates are up to 16 hours in advance.
• Comprehensive pollution insights
  – Pollutants which have the
  biggest impact on human health are evaluated to provide more accurate
  air quality level insights, including Ozone (O3), Sulfur dioxide
  (SO2), Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (SO2) and fine particles
  (PM2.5 and PM10).
• Access to air quality maps globally
  – From Hong Kong to Los
  Angeles, WeatherBug Air Quality is accessible online and through
  mobile iOS and Android devices in APAC, EMEA, and North America.

50+ million people affected by nasal allergies gain access to
better insights

In addition to air pollution, nasal allergies and respiratory issues are
also on the rise with the start of spring. According to the Asthma and
Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), nearly 1 in 13 people have asthma
and nasal allergies

impact
over 50 million people

, accounting for the sixth leading cause
of chronic illness in the U.S.

“Before we roll out of bed, checking the weather is one of the first
things we do. It affects what we wear, how we feel, and what we plan to
do throughout the day,” said

Eric
Hadley, CMO, GroundTruth

. “Weather has a profound impact on our
lives, and WeatherBug’s latest Air Quality feature makes our
weather-checking impulses more valuable – especially for those with more
acute cases, where it may impact productivity or even one’s safety.”

“When it comes to timely and precise hyperlocal, hyper-relevant weather
information, our scale and verified level of accuracy gives people and
businesses a powerful ‘weathervane’ in the palm of their hand,” adds
Vincent.

To learn more about the air quality around you, visit:

https://www.weatherbug.com/air-quality/

About WeatherBug

Established in 1993, WeatherBug is a popular weather site and mobile app
reporting hyperlocal and live weather data to consumer users. With over
20 million unique users per month, WeatherBug’s vision is to deliver the
ultimate weather experiences for all aspects of people’s lives. The
WeatherBug app is a top rated weather app – ranking #1 in the app
stores. In 2016, WeatherBug was named best weather app by MediaPost’s
Appy awards. WeatherBug is owned and operated by GroundTruth, the
leading global location technology platform. Learn more:
www.weatherbug.com

About GroundTruth

GroundTruth is the leading global technology platform driving in-store
visits and sales by leveraging location as the primary source of intent.
We believe in the power of place. Build your brand, increase sales and
grow your business by building off what real people are doing in the
real world, mapped using our proprietary Blueprints technology. Through
its data foundation, GroundTruth sees 2 out 3 smartphone users in the
U.S. and more than 30 billion physical visits annually across 21
countries globally. Learn more:
www.groundtruth.com

Contacts

GroundTruth

Jessica Meyers, 646-634-7547

[email protected]

or

Hotwire
Global on behalf of GroundTruth

Jennifer Sricharoenchaikit,
617-943-1710

[email protected]