VayuraVayura

Methodology

Transparent oxygen calculation methodology for expert review and community trust

Calculation Model Version
v1.0
Last Updated
January 2026

Overview

Vayura uses a science-based methodology to calculate oxygen demand and supply at the state and district level. Our approach combines population data, environmental factors, and tree oxygen production to provide actionable insights.

This page documents our calculation methodology to enable expert review, ensure transparency, and build trust in our open-source platform.

Oxygen Demand Calculation

Base Formula

O₂ Demand = Population × Daily O₂ × 365 × Conversion × Penalty

Constants

  • Human O₂ consumption550 L/day/person
  • Liters to kg conversion1.429 kg / 1000 L
  • Days per year365

Environmental Penalty Factors

These multipliers account for increased oxygen needs due to pollution, soil degradation, and natural disasters.

AQI Penalty Factor

AQI 0-50 (Good)1.0×
AQI 51-100 (Moderate)1.05×
AQI 101-150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive)1.15×
AQI 151-200 (Unhealthy)1.30×
AQI 201-300 (Very Unhealthy)1.50×
AQI 300+ (Hazardous)1.75×

Soil Degradation Factor

Soil Quality ≥ 80%1.0×
Soil Quality 60-79%1.1×
Soil Quality 40-59%1.3×
Soil Quality < 40%1.6×

Disaster Loss Factor

0 disasters/year1.0×
1-2 disasters/year1.05×
3-5 disasters/year1.15×
6-10 disasters/year1.30×
10+ disasters/year1.50×

Total Penalty Multiplier: AQI Factor × Soil Factor × Disaster Factor

Oxygen Supply Calculation

Base Formula

O₂ Supply = Total Trees × Base Production × Soil Adjustment

Constants & Assumptions

  • Base tree O₂ production110 kg/year
  • Average tree lifespan (estimated)50 years
  • Soil quality adjustment range70% - 100%

Soil Quality Adjustment

Tree oxygen production is adjusted based on soil quality:

Adjustment = max(0.7, Soil Quality / 100)

This ensures that even poor soil (below 70% quality) allows trees to produce at least 70% of their base oxygen output.

Data Sources

Population Data

Census of India (latest available district-level data)

Forest Cover Data

Forest Survey of India (FSI) - State of Forest Report

Air Quality Index (AQI)

Default assumption: 100 (Moderate) - Real-time integration pending

Tree Species Identification

AI-powered image analysis using Google Gemini Vision

Soil Quality & Disaster Data

Default regional estimates - Pending integration with government databases

Known Limitations

We acknowledge the following limitations in our current methodology:

  • •
    Simplified Environmental Factors: Current penalty factors are broad estimates and don't capture hyperlocal variations.
  • •
    Default AQI Values: We currently use a default AQI of 100 (Moderate). Real-time AQI integration is planned.
  • •
    AI-Based Tree Age Estimation: Tree age and health assessments use AI inference, which may have accuracy limitations.
  • •
    Species-Specific Variations: The base 110 kg/year is an average. Actual O₂ production varies by species, age, and health.
  • •
    Seasonal Variations: Our annual calculations don't account for seasonal changes in photosynthesis rates.

Scientific References

  • 1.
    Nowak, D. J., et al. (2007). "Oxygen production by urban trees in the United States." Arboriculture & Urban Forestry.
  • 2.
    Forest Survey of India. (Latest). "State of Forest Report." Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.
  • 3.
    Census of India. District-level population statistics. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India.

This methodology is open for community review and improvement.

Contribute on GitHub →