Openaq MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Openaq MCP Server

before you install - you'll need

Set MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE, OPENAQ_API_KEY before connecting.

Claude Code

claude mcp add cyanheads-openaq-mcp-server --transport http https://openaq.caseyjhand.com/mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cyanheads-openaq-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://openaq.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

https://openaq.caseyjhand.com/mcp

transport: streamable-http

endpoint NOT responding · probed 2026-09-30

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions · remote - your agent's requests go to openaq.caseyjhand.com

license Apache-2.0 - declared in the repository

npm package @cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server - published under the repo owner's npm scope (@cyanheads)

registry namespace io.github.cyanheads is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Openaq MCP Server can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can find monitoring stations near a point, in a bounding box, or by country, list the tables and columns staged on a DataCanvas, run a read-only SQL SELECT over staged measurement series, and delete a complete staged canvas.

The 8 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what openaq-mcp-server lets an agent do.

openaq_find_locations: - Find monitoring stations near a point, in a bounding box, or by country; the location ids the other tools take
openaq_get_readings: - Latest value for every sensor at a station, labeled with its pollutant and unit
openaq_get_measurements: - Historical series for one pollutant at one station, raw or rolled up hourly/daily
openaq_list_parameters: - Pollutant catalog with canonical units; maps a pollutant and unit to its parameter id
openaq_list_countries: - Country coverage: data span and the parameters measured in each
openaq_dataframe_describe: - List the tables and columns staged on a DataCanvas
openaq_dataframe_query: - Run a read-only SQL SELECT over staged measurement series
openaq_dataframe_drop: - Delete a complete staged canvas; opt-in with OPENAQ_ENABLE_CANVAS_DROP=true

Latest releases

v0.4.1 · 2026-09-26

Native multi-architecture dependency installs · Run production dependency installs and Socket scanning on the native build platform, selecting matching DuckDB bindings for each target CPU while preserving the…

v0.4.0 · 2026-09-26

Canvas lifecycle and measurement precision · Add openaq_dataframe_drop, disabled by default and tenant-scoped when enabled; forward canvas configuration across install surfaces. · Preserve fractional measurements…

v0.3.0 · 2026-09-24

Station-local days, gap reporting, nearest-station pool · a date-only datetimeFrom/datetimeTo on openaq_get_measurements is now the station's local calendar day (was a UTC day ending T23:59:59Z); effectiveRange echoes…

04 · Who maintains Openaq MCP Server

openaq-mcp-server is maintained by cyanheads. We track 137 MCP servers from cyanheads - 131 actively maintained, 1,856 combined GitHub stars, oldest repo from Dec 2024. Full record: all servers from cyanheads.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server
category: DevOps & monitoring - ranked #40 of 125 actively-maintained DevOps & monitoring servers as of 2026-09-30.
release cadence: 10+ releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-09-26)
registry: io.github.cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server (active, first published 2026-06-14 · 15 versions)
packages: npm:@cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server · npm:@cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server

06 · Openaq MCP Server FAQ

Is Openaq MCP Server still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-30, its last commit was 2026-09-26 and it shipped 10+ releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

What can Openaq MCP Server do?

With this server connected, an agent can find monitoring stations near a point, in a bounding box, or by country, list the tables and columns staged on a DataCanvas, run a read-only SQL SELECT over staged measurement series, and delete a complete staged canvas.

How do I install Openaq MCP Server?

Run `npx -y @cyanheads/openaq-mcp-server`. The README documents 2 environment variables (MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE, OPENAQ_API_KEY) to set first. Set MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE, OPENAQ_API_KEY before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Openaq MCP Server run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Openaq MCP Server

Alternatives to Openaq MCP Server

Maintained DevOps & monitoring servers if Openaq MCP Server isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Openaq MCP Server doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

More DevOps & monitoring MCP servers · Uptime Kuma · GCP Platform Engineer · Process · Dynatrace · Dynatrace Managed MCP

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