How do I get an OpenAQ API Key?

Visit [**OpenAQ Platform**](https://platform.openaq.org/), create a free account, and generate your API key from the dashboard. Free tier includes 1,000 requests/hour.

What air quality parameters can I monitor?

PM2.5, PM10, O3 (ozone), NO2, SO2, CO, BC (black carbon), and more. Use `get_parameters` to see the full list with units and classifications.

Can I get historical air quality data?

Yes! Use `get_measurements` with date_from and date_to parameters in ISO 8601 format to retrieve time-series data for any location and parameter.

OpenAQ MCP Server for Cursor 9 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: OpenAQ
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

docs.cursor.com/context/model-context-protocol

Built by Vinkius GDPR 9 Tools IDE

Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that integrates LLM-powered coding assistance directly into the development workflow. Its Agent mode enables autonomous multi-step coding tasks, and MCP support lets agents access external data sources and APIs during code generation.

Get MCP Server for AI Agents

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Vinkius Desktop App

The modern way to manage MCP Servers — no config files, no terminal commands. Install OpenAQ and 2,500+ MCP Servers from a single visual interface.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openaq": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About OpenAQ MCP Server

Connect OpenAQ, the world's largest open air quality database, to any AI agent and monitor real-time pollution levels, track air quality trends, and access data from thousands of monitoring stations globally through natural language.

Cursor's Agent mode turns OpenAQ into an in-editor superpower. Ask Cursor to generate code using live data from OpenAQ and it fetches, processes, and writes. all in a single agentic loop. 9 tools appear alongside file editing and terminal access, creating a unified development environment grounded in real-time information.

What you can do

Live Monitoring — Get the latest PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO readings from any location worldwide
Historical Analysis — Query time-series measurement data with date range filters for trend analysis
Location Discovery — Browse monitoring stations by country, city, or geographic area
Sensor Tracking — View active sensor devices and their measurement parameters
Parameter Reference — Look up all measurable air quality parameters with units and classifications
Global Coverage — Access data from 100+ countries with thousands of active monitoring locations

The OpenAQ MCP Server exposes 9 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cursor in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect OpenAQ to Cursor via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the OpenAQ MCP Server with Cursor.

Open MCP Settings

Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) → search "MCP Settings"

Add the server config

Paste the JSON configuration above into the mcp.json file that opens

Save the file

Cursor will automatically detect the new MCP server

Start using OpenAQ

Open Agent mode in chat and ask: "Using OpenAQ, help me...". 9 tools available

Why Use Cursor with the OpenAQ MCP Server

Cursor AI Code Editor provides unique advantages when paired with OpenAQ through the Model Context Protocol.

Agent mode turns Cursor into an autonomous coding assistant that can read files, run commands, and call MCP tools without switching context

Cursor's Composer feature can generate entire files using real-time data fetched through MCP. no copy-pasting from external dashboards

MCP tools appear alongside built-in tools like file reading and terminal access, creating a unified agentic environment

VS Code extension compatibility means your existing workflow, keybindings, and extensions all work alongside MCP tools

OpenAQ + Cursor Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cursor combined with the OpenAQ MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Code generation with live data: ask Cursor to generate a security report module using live DNS and subdomain data fetched through MCP

Automated documentation: have Cursor query your API's tool schemas and generate TypeScript interfaces or OpenAPI specs automatically

Infrastructure-as-code: Cursor can fetch domain configurations and generate corresponding Terraform or CloudFormation templates

Test scaffolding: ask Cursor to pull real API responses via MCP and generate unit test fixtures from actual data

OpenAQ MCP Tools for Cursor (9)

These 9 tools become available when you connect OpenAQ to Cursor via MCP:

get_countries

Includes location counts and city counts per country. List countries with monitoring stations

get_latest_measurements

Useful for getting current air quality status without querying full history. Get latest measurements per location

get_location_by_id

Get details for a specific location

get_locations

Filter by country, city, parameter, or geographic bounding box. Returns location details including coordinates, sensor counts, and whether the station is an official monitor. List air quality monitoring locations

get_measurements

Filter by location, parameter, date range, and value range. Returns readings with timestamps. Get historical air quality measurements

get_parameter_by_id

Get details for a specific parameter

get_parameters

5, PM10, O3 (ozone), NO2, SO2, CO, etc. Includes units and whether each is a core parameter. List measurable air quality parameters

get_sensor_by_id

Get details for a specific sensor

get_sensors

Filter by location, parameter type, or active status. List air quality sensors

Example Prompts for OpenAQ in Cursor

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cursor agent to start working with OpenAQ immediately.

"What's the current PM2.5 level in São Paulo, Brazil?"

"Which countries have the most air quality monitoring stations?"

"Show me ozone (O3) measurements from the last 24 hours in Paris."

Troubleshooting OpenAQ MCP Server with Cursor

Common issues when connecting OpenAQ to Cursor through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Tools not appearing in Cursor

Ensure you are in Agent mode (not Ask mode). MCP tools only work in Agent mode.

Server shows as disconnected

Check Settings → Features → MCP and verify the server status. Try clicking the refresh button.

OpenAQ + Cursor FAQ

Common questions about integrating OpenAQ MCP Server with Cursor.

What is Agent mode and why does it matter for MCP?

Agent mode is Cursor's autonomous execution mode where the AI can perform multi-step tasks: reading files, editing code, running terminal commands, and calling MCP tools. Without Agent mode, Cursor operates in a simpler ask-and-answer mode that doesn't support tool calling. Always ensure you're in Agent mode when working with MCP servers.

Where does Cursor store MCP configuration?

Cursor looks for MCP server configurations in a mcp.json file. You can configure servers at the project level (.cursor/mcp.json in your project root) or globally (~/.cursor/mcp.json). Project-level configs take precedence.

Can Cursor use MCP tools in inline edits?

No. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode through the chat panel. Inline completions and Tab suggestions do not trigger MCP tool calls. This is by design. tool calls require user visibility and approval.

How do I verify MCP tools are loaded?

Open Settings → Features → MCP and look for your server name. A green indicator means the server is connected. You can also check Agent mode's available tools by clicking the tools dropdown in the chat panel.