Environmental monitoring digitalized for green transformation

An effective tool for environmental governance

Alongside rapid economic growth and industrialization, environmental pressures have intensified. Air and water pollution have become major issues that must be addressed on the path toward sustainable development. However, pollution control can hardly be accurate or effective without environmental monitoring tools.

Environmental monitoring activities in Viet Nam were established quite early, but only gained a clear legal basis starting in 1993, when the National Assembly passed the first Law on Environmental Protection. Over more than three decades, environmental monitoring has shifted from manual methods to automation, from “measuring to know” to “monitoring to act,” evolving from a purely technical tool into an essential component of a modern, transparent, and socially responsible environmental governance system.

A highlight of Viet Nam’s environmental monitoring landscape is the establishment and development of the national environmental monitoring network. Over three planning phases, Viet Nam has oriented its monitoring network toward synchronous, modern development, with real-time data connectivity to support comprehensive and effective environmental management. In particular, Decision No. 224/QĐ-TTg by the Prime Minister, approving the Master Plan for the National Environmental Monitoring System for the 2021–2030 period with a vision to 2050, clearly states that Viet Nam will build a modern, high-tech national environmental monitoring network capable of accurate measurement, continuous data collection, timely processing, and rapid warning. 

In line with the Law's provisions and the Government’s planning, the Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring has continuously strived to fulfill its role as the focal point of the national environmental monitoring system.

Currently, the Center is implementing the national environmental quality monitoring program with 135 monitoring sites across five river basins, 25 sites on the Bac Hung Hai irrigation system, 26 monitoring sites at major estuaries in the northern region, and 22 coastal seawater tracking sites in the provinces and cities. Ambient air quality monitoring is conducted at 40 locations in the north of key economic region and at several sites in Ha Tinh province.

Management and operation of the national automatic environmental monitoring stations under Decision 224/QĐ-TTg include 16 ambient air stations, 22 surface water stations, 6 marine water stations, and more than 80 air-monitoring sensor devices nationwide.

With this system, the Center provides data and information to support national environmental quality assessment and public information disclosure, serving as a basis for policymaking in environmental management and protection.

Operating a national environmental monitoring network

The Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring has been assigned to manage and operate the Center for Integration, Processing of Information and Data, and Operation of the National Environmental Monitoring Network.

At present, the Center is receiving data from more than 2,100 automatic monitoring stations measuring air, surface water, wastewater, and emissions across 34 provinces and cities through the Envisoft software, which runs on both web and mobile platforms. This enables seamless data connectivity and interoperability, unified management from central to local levels, and practical support for assessing the current state and trends of environmental quality across regions and provinces, pollution control, and public disclosure of environmental quality information.

The Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring has also conducted research and implemented modeling systems, applying artificial intelligence and remote sensing technologies, and developed environmental quality forecasting tools and early warning systems for air pollution. To date, the Center has developed an air quality forecasting system using a multi-model and multi-data-source approach (including meteorology, remote sensing, topographic and land-cover data). The system is operated daily to forecast environmental quality (AQI) 48 hours ahead for six economic regions nationwide. At the same time, it has published two-day air quality forecasts for 34 provinces, displayed visually on a webGIS platform.

Advancing the digitalization process

The Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring also plays a key role in developing the digital infrastructure platform for the Department of Environment, building the National Environmental Information System and Database, and contributing to the modernization of state environmental management.

In implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, issued by the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the National Environmental Information System and Database will be developed and improved in the coming period. 

With a highly skilled professional team and a spirit of responsibility and innovation, the Northern Center for Environmental Monitoring consistently upholds its role as the national focal point for environmental monitoring, environmental analysis, and the development of the national environmental database. It also serves as the technical hub for managing, integrating, and sharing national environmental data, making significant contributions to the digital government development process in the agriculture and environment sectors.