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Q&A September 2 - PlanetWatch

September 2 PlanetWatch Q&A

September 2 PlanetWatch Q&A

As announced, we are moving towards a new format that will replace the AMAs. For the time being, while we craft the concept, we will answer your questions through a biweekly blog post.

Q&A September 2 - PlanetWatch

Here we go:

1. Can you elaborate on the interest around PlanetWatch’s API and expectations for first data sale?

World Health Organisation data shows that 99% of the world population is exposed to air that does not meet quality standards. To address such a critical issue, we need to monitor air quality, and analyse local pollution hotspots. However, the current methods to monitor air quality are not up to the challenge: air quality can change drastically in a short period of time and just a few blocks apart, but there are not enough sensors on the ground to detect these variations.

We need hyperlocal data in real-time. That is where we come in. PlanetWatch is creating the 1st air quality data ledger using blockchain technology to raise awareness, and foster better-informed and impactful decision-making.

Our API makes the real-time hyperlocal data collected by our extensive network of devices – deployed mainly across Europe and North America – available to any public or private organisation that wants to tackle air pollution through a data-led approach. These insights can be leveraged by multiple sectors…

  • air quality adjacent companies (such as consulting, insurance or HVAC companies)
  • smart cities (such as smart buildings, urban planning or tourism)
  • smart mobility (such as mapping or transportation services) 
  • digital health
  • etc.

… to get air quality measurements with accurate spatial and temporal resolution aimed at enhancing their solutions and protecting public health.

Regarding data sales, we already started making our first deals:
indoor data
outdoor data

We are currently working on POCs to showcase our added value and drive new business opportunities.

2. How will PlanetWatch transfer company fiat value into the token to stimulate the project and prevent massive amounts of sensors from going offline?

The key use cases for Planet tokens are:

  • Purchasing licenses which enable users to connect approved sensors to the PlanetWatch network and receive rewards for data streams.
  • Purchasing wholesale API-based access to the PlanetWatch hyperlocal air quality dataset to embed our data into products and services for consumers, corporates and governmental institutions. 

The key use case is the second one because, ultimately, the value of PlanetWatch and its token depends on the value of the data generated. This is why we are currently investing most of our resources in order to start high-profile projects where data is used. 

As stipulated in the White Paper, 80% of the proceeds from data sales will be redistributed to the community via Planets. Since wholesale data access must be paid in Planets, this will create increasing token demand on the market. 

Please note that data sales will add value to the token even when end users such as local government institutions will pay data services in fiat. To understand this, consider a consulting firm selling PlanetWatch-powered services to a local government customer and collecting fiat payments. To deliver the service, the firm must first purchase wholesale access to our dataset, which can only be paid in Planets.

We are working round the clock to improve our API-based data access engine and find clients for the service. In the long run, API access will be decentralized, i.e. managed via a smart contract. This will increase the transparency of data sales and allow for automatic redistribution of proceeds as per the White Paper.

3. When will you start taking the token price decline seriously?

We take the token price decline very seriously but we have to keep in mind that we are going through a bear market at the moment.

For more information about how we are protecting the rewards’ value under bear market conditions, please refer to the Q&A on July 8th answers to questions number 1 and 2 – “How will PlanetWatch grow during a bear market? Do you have funds to deal with this situation?” and “How will PlanetWatch protect the value of the rewards?”.

4. Why are my rewards down from 45 to 15 on my Type 3 sensor?

Please refer to the Q&A on July 22nd answer to question number 8 – “Why have my Type 3 rewards dropped from 45 to 15?”.

5. Why are 43.03M Planets in Type 2’s recycle bin if nobody holds any devices when you can move that to Type 3?

As stated in our White Paper, we use different types of plug and play sensors for different purposes:

– Type 1: Premium outdoor devices
Air quality monitoring devices capable of measuring particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) as well as key gases such as NO2, O3 and CO.

– Type 2: Consumer-grade outdoor devices
Air quality monitoring devices capable of measuring particulate matter (PM2.5) and climatic parameters.

– Type 3: Indoor devices
Air quality monitoring devices that continuously measure VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), PM2.5, CO2, temperature and relative humidity.

– Type 4: Wearable and special devices
Air quality monitoring devices that can detect PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 pollutants, like dust, pollen, soot, and mold, plus a wide range of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

To build a robust network that representatively captures the air people are breathing, we need to grow our sensor coverage across all sensor types. So, it only makes sense to keep a fairer distribution of the rewards across all recycle bins as per the White Paper.

Type 2 has been the one with fewer devices up for sale until now but we are getting ready to release a brand new Type 2 device, which will be more affordable than Type 1 and help solidify our outdoor network towards achieving “hyperlocality” faster. Therefore, we expect the Type 2 network to grow significantly in the coming months and Planet tokens in the Type 2 recycle bin will eventually be used.

As a recap, our newly approved Type 2 device has the following features:

  • Data transfer: Wi-Fi
  • Onboarding: Bluetooth
  • Location: GPS
  • Solar panel: 6.2W
  • Backup battery: 12Ah
  • Backup power supply: 110/220 volts
  • Air temperature: -20ºC to 70ºC
  • Air humidity: 0-100%
  • PM2.5 & PM10: 0-999µg/m³

6. My order number says my Type 1 and Type 2 devices should have been ready in July & August. What is the rollout plan and holdup for Type 1, 2, and 3 devices?

We are working on a plan to open sales to all people in the waiting list, regardless of when the order was placed, and for the broader market at the same time. This should be released in the coming weeks.

7. What will be done to address TEA Group incorrectly declaring shipping to the UK causing UK customers to have to pay huge import tax amounts?

For all shipping or customs-related questions, please refer to the sensor vendor.

8. Can you give us an update on the 23 missing Helium Deploy EU Airqino orders?

For all shipping or customs-related questions, please refer to the sensor vendor.

9. When are the next refunds related to the Element Community Resilience Plan?

We issued the refunds related to the Element Community Resilience Plan for 2-year Type 4 license owners on August 31st at the exchange rate of 0.0085 EUR/USD.

The last refunds will take place on September 30th for 3-year Type 4 licenses.

10. Will you consider doing a Twitter space to answer the communities’ questions and give project updates or a live AMA once in a while with Claudio instead of this blog post?

We are exploring ways of coming back to YouTube. We have been mostly focussed on structural internal projects for the past weeks but we hope to bring you new content in the near future.

In the meantime, we will keep this means of communicating with you on a regular basis, besides our social media channels.

For today this is all! We will be back for another Q&A blog post on the 16th of September. 

Please check our previous Q&As for more info:

Thank you for your support and keep watching the Planet 🌍