PRAISE-HK mobile app (“App”) is developed by Institute for the Environment (IENV), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)(“the Institute”).

This page is used to inform visitors regarding our policies with the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Information if anyone decided to use our App.

If you choose to use our App, then you agree to the collection and use of information in relation to this policy. The personal information that we collect is used for providing and improving the App. We will not use or share your information with anyone except as described in this Privacy Policy.

 

Information Collection and Usage

From signing up to the App, checking street-level air quality information nearest to your GPS-located location, using map feature to route planning, book marking, or saving activates throughout the day. We collect this information solely for the support on the overall App service, the Institute’s academic researches and project development.

 

Personal Information

If you create a PRAISE-HK App account, you provide us with your name and email address, which we use to ensure your personalisation features, including exposure records and symptom report are synced across your multiple devices. During the account registration process, you will provide us your name, gender, year of birth, height, weight, smoking habit, frequency of exercise and health status. The information will be used for analysis and generating personalised notifications.

For the system to give back personalised health alert, you will also be asked to report symptoms, namely :

• Wheezing
• Cough/Phlegm
• Throat irritation/Sore Throat
• Chest tightness/Shortness of Breath
• Chest Pain
• Eye Irritation (Itchy/Pain/Redness)

 

Places and Environment Settings

You may choose to provide us with information on your places and environment settings, such as Home, Workplace and other saved locations when book marking the locations. We use this information to analyse your daily air pollution exposure level. This data is also used to enhance the accuracy of location tracking in the App. 

 

Location Information

If you enable your device’s location services, we may collect and use your nearest GPS-located location information when you open the App to provide you the street-level air quality information and route options to your destinations.

If you enable your device to track your exposure, we collect your location information when the App is running both in the foreground and background of your device during your journey. Collecting this information enables us to analyse and calculate your daily air pollution exposure level and provide personalised air quality information and health alert to you.   

 

Device Information

We collect information about the devices you use to access our App, including the type of computer or device you use, the installation ID of the App on your device, the hardware model, operating system and versions, software, file names and versions, the preferred language, time zone settings, and device motion information. This information is necessary for us to diagnose bugs and improve the App. We do not collect any permanent device ID numbers.

 

Log Data

Each time you open the App, we collect information about how and when you use it (such as the time and date, searches in the App features and journey results you select, pages visited, app crashes and other system activity). We use this information to improve our App in multiple ways. For example, fixing bugs preventing future crashes and working out which features our users find most helpful.

 

Cookies

Cookies are files with a small amount of data that are commonly used as anonymous unique identifiers. These are sent to your browser from the websites that you visit and are stored on your device’s internal memory.

This App does not use these cookies explicitly. However, some third party code and libraries might use cookies to collect information and improve their services. You have the option to either accept or refuse these cookies and know when a cookie is being sent to your device. If you choose to refuse our cookies, you may not be able to use some parts of the App.

 

Service Providers

We may employ third-party companies and individuals due to the following reasons:

• To facilitate our App;
• To provide the App on our behalf;
• To perform App-related services; or
• To assist us in analyzing how our App is used.

 

We want to inform users of this App that these third parties have access to your Personal Information. The reason is to perform the tasks assigned to them on our behalf. However, they are obligated not to disclose or use the information for any other purpose.

The app does use third party services that may collect information used to identify you.

Link to privacy policy of third party service providers used by the app:

Google Play Services https://policies.google.com/privacy

Firebase Analytics https://firebase.google.com/policies/analytics

 

Security

We value your trust in providing us your Personal Information, thus we are striving to protect it. But remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure and reliable, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

 

Links to Other Sites

This App may contain links to other sites. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that site. Note that these external sites are not operated by us. Therefore, we strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of these websites. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

 

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. Thus, you are advised to review this page periodically for any changes. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. These changes are effective immediately after they are posted on this page.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions or suggestions about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us at praise@ust.hk