Darren Riley, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, JustAir Solutions

Breathing Better Through Data

Darren Riley (DC 2014) was in his mid-20s when he developed asthma after moving to one of the most polluted ZIP codes in the U.S.

His diagnosis showed him how much the environment and the air we breathe daily influences our quality of life.

So he launched JustAir — combining his experiences as a Black man with air pollution-related health issues and his technical expertise originating from his Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences computer information systems degree.

The company’s neighborhood-level air quality monitoring network platform helps map pollutants, magnify air quality disparities from one ZIP code to the next, in order to identify the local activities and trends that drive an area’s air quality.

“With our monitors and insight tools, communities can more accurately identify sources of pollutants,” Darren says. “They can then develop data-driven solutions to protect the breathing environment for our most vulnerable groups.”

JustAir currently has hundreds of sensors deployed throughout the country with an emphasis on communities where many residents face health disparities that go hand-in-hand with systemic racial injustice. The company recently entered an historic three-year partnership with Wayne County, the largest county in Michigan, to launch a network of 100 air monitors to identify solutions that improve environmental health outcomes.

JustAir’s platform supports solutions around issues such as asthma through their connected inhaler and alert system. Their data has also shown the value of putting green infrastructure between residents and industry in Dearborn, Michigan, and made the case to reduce engine idling near schools.

“We look at results in terms of raising awareness, driving environmental change and influencing policy,” he says. “Our data tells the story of our lived experiences and the inequities we face. That’s propelled me to shine a light on solutions to drive for a better future.”

Story by Elizabeth Speed