---
layout: page
title: "AirVisual"
description: "Instructions on how to use AirVisual data within Home Assistant"
date: 2017-09-06 12:15
sidebar: true
comments: false
sharing: true
footer: true
logo: airvisual.jpg
ha_category: Health
ha_release: 0.53
ha_iot_class: "Cloud Polling"
---
The `airvisual` sensor platform queries the [AirVisual](https://airvisual.com/) API for air quality data. Data can be collected via latitude/longitude or by city/state/country. The resulting information creates sensors for the Air Quality Index (AQI), the human-friendly air quality level, and the main pollutant of that area. Sensors that conform to either/both the [U.S. and Chinese air quality standards](http://www.clm.com/publication.cfm?ID=366) can be created.
This platform requires an AirVisual API key, which can be obtained [here](https://airvisual.com/api). Note that the platform was designed using the "Community" package; the "Startup" and "Enterprise" package keys should continue to function, but actual results may vary (or not work at all).
<p class='note warning'>
The "Community" API key is limited to 10,000 calls per month. In order to leave a buffer, the `airvisual` platform queries the API every 10 minutes by default. Modification of this (via the `scan_interval` key) to a too-low value may result in your API key being deactivated.
</p>
## {% linkable_title Configuration %}
To enable the platform and gather data via latitude/longitude, add the following lines to your `configuration.yaml` file:
```yaml
sensor:
- platform: airvisual
api_key: YOUR_AIRVISUAL_API_KEY
```
{% configuration %}
api_key:
description: Your AirVisual API key.
required: required
type: string
monitored_conditions:
description: "The air quality standard(s) to use (`us` for U.S., `cn` for Chinese)."
required: required
type: list
default: ['us', 'cn']
show_on_map:
description: "Whether to show a marker on the map at the specified location."
required: optional
type: boolean
default: true
scan_interval:
description: "The rate at which AirVisual should be polled for new data."
required: optional
type: integer
default: 600
latitude:
description: The latitude of the location to monitor.
required: optional
type: string
default: "The latitude defined under the `homeassistant` key in `configuration.yaml`."
longitude:
description: The longitude of the location to monitor.
required: optional
type: string
default: "The longitude defined under the `homeassistant` key in `configuration.yaml`."
city:
description: The city to monitor.
required: optional
type: string
state:
description: The state the city belongs to.
required: optional
type: string
country:
description: The country the state belongs to.
required: optional
type: string
{% endconfiguration %}
## {% linkable_title Example Configurations %}
Configuration using custom Latitude and Longitude:
```yaml
sensor:
- platform: airvisual
api_key: YOUR_AIRVISUAL_API_KEY
monitored_conditions:
- cn
show_on_map: false
scan_interval: 30
latitude: 42.81212
longitude: 108.12422
```
Configuration using city, state, and country:
```yaml
sensor:
- platform: airvisual
api_key: YOUR_AIRVISUAL_API_KEY
monitored_conditions:
- us
show_on_map: false
scan_interval: 30
city: Los Angeles
state: California
country: USA
```
## {% linkable_title Determining the City/State/Country %}
To easily determine the proper values for a particular location, use the [AirVisual region directory](https://airvisual.com/world). Once you browse to the particular city you want, take note of the breadcrumb title, which is of the form `country > state/region > city`. Use this information to fill out `configuration.yaml`.
For example, Sao Paulo, Brazil shows a breadcrumb title of `Brazil > Sao Paulo > Sao Paulo`. Thus, the proper configuration would look like this:
```yaml
sensor:
- platform: airvisual
api_key: abc123
monitored_conditions:
- us
- cn
city: sao-paulo
state: sao-paulo
country: brazil
```
## {% linkable_title Sensor Types %}
When configured, the platform will create three sensors for each configured air quality standard:
### Air Quality Index
- **Description:** This sensor displays a numeric air quality index (AQI), a metric for the overall "health" of the air.
- **Example Sensor Name:** `sensor.chinese_air_quality_index`
- **Example Sensor Value:** `32`
- **Explanation:**
AQI | Status | Description
------- | :----------------: | ----------
0 - 50 | **Good** | Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk
51 - 100 | **Moderate** | Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution
101 - 150 | **Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups** | Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected
151 - 200 | **Unhealthy** | Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects
201 - 300 | **Very unhealthy** | Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected
301+ | **Hazardous** | Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects
### Air Pollution Level
- **Description:** This sensor displays the associated `Status` (from the above table) for the current AQI.
- **Sample Sensor Name:** `sensor.us_air_pollution_level`
- **Example Sensor Value:** `Moderate`
### Main Pollutant
- **Description:** This sensor displays the pollutant whose value is currently highest.
- **Sample Sensor Name:** `sensor.us_main_pollutant`
- **Example Sensor Value:** `PM2.5`
- **Explanation:**
Pollutant | Symbol | More Info
------- | :----------------: | ----------
Particulate (<= 2.5 μm) | PM2.5 | [EPA: Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution ](https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution)
Particulate (<= 10 μm) | PM10 | [EPA: Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution ](https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution)
Ozone | O | [EPA: Ozone Pollution](https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution)
Sulpher Dioxide | SO2 | [EPA: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Pollution](https://www.epa.gov/so2-pollution)
Carbon Monoxide | CO | [EPA: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Pollution in Outdoor Air](https://www.epa.gov/co-pollution)