A computer-implemented method includes receiving historical pollution distribution data indicating a pollution distribution in a target area, determining a first searching path for a mobile pollution detecting device that prioritizes subareas in the target area that have not been recently searched relative to other subareas, determining a second searching path for the mobile pollution detecting device that prioritizes subareas in the target area that have a high measure of pollution relative to other subareas, determining whether an amount of the historical pollution distribution data exceeds a threshold amount, and transmitting a signal causing the mobile pollution detecting device to search the target area for pollution based on the first searching path when the amount of the historical pollution distribution data is less than the threshold amount or the second searching path when the amount of the historical pollution distribution data is greater than or equal to the threshold amount.