Performance of a Low-Cost Sensor Community Air Monitoring Network in Imperial County, CA

English, Paul; Amato, Heather K.; Bejarano, Esther; Carvlin, Graeme; Lugo, Humberto; Jerrett, Michael; King, Galatea; Madrigal, Daniel; Meltzer, Dan; Northcross, Amanda; Olmedo, Luis José Imedio; Seto, Edmund; Torres, Christian; Wilkie, A. S.; Wong, Michelle

doi:10.3390/s20113031

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Moreover, dense LC networks can be useful for addressing current limitations in the spatial coverage of government air monitoring, to provide real‐time warnings of high pollution episodes to vulnerable populations (Seto et al, 2019). For example, within a 5‐month LC monitoring campaign in the Imperial Valley (CA, USA), more than 50% of PM 2.5 critical episodes identified by the 38 community stations were not observed by the government monitors (English et al, 2020; Seto et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐cost air quality monitoring networks for long‐term field campaigns: A review

Carotenuto,

Bisignano,

Brilli

et al. 2023

Meteorological Applications

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The application of low‐cost air quality monitoring networks has substantially grown over the last few years, following the technological advances in the production of cheap and portable air pollution sensors, thus potentially greatly increasing the limited spatial information on air quality conditions provided by traditional stations. However, the use of low‐cost air quality sensors still presents many limitations, mostly related to the reliability of their measurements. Despite the increasing number of papers focusing on these issues, some of the challenges connected to the use of low‐cost air quality sensors are still poorly investigated and understood, considering in particular those related to long‐term applications of low‐cost air quality networks and their integration within the reference air quality monitoring system. The present review aims at filling this gap, by analysing the characteristics of low‐cost air quality monitoring networks that were run across long‐term field campaigns, including their geographical location, the pollutants monitored, the type and number of stations employed, and the length of the field campaign, with a particular attention on assessing the aims for their deployment and on the evaluation of their integration within official air quality monitoring networks. Moreover, a critical analysis of the most insightful suggestions and recommendations delivered in the literature, as well as of the relevant critical issues, is presented, highlighting still open research areas and outlining future challenges.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐cost air quality monitoring networks for long‐term field campaigns: A review

Carotenuto,

Bisignano,

Brilli

et al. 2023

Meteorological Applications

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“…This trend of cost-effective air quality monitoring includes user-oriented data services and education about air pollution and climate change to best exploit the knowledge and information content of measured data. Local authorities already use such data (e.g., English, 2020) for identifying emission hot spots, management of city infrastructure and road traffic management towards improving air quality.…”

Section: Applicability Of Sensor Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Air Quality Research – Current and Emerging Challenges

Sokhi

Moussiopoulos

Baklanov

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. This review provides a community’s perspective on air quality research focussing mainly on developments over the past decade. The article provides perspectives on current and future challenges as well as research needs for selected key topics. While this paper is not an exhaustive review of all research areas in the field of air quality, we have selected key topics that we feel are important from air quality research and policy perspectives. After providing a short historical overview, this review focuses on improvements in characterising sources and emissions of air pollution, new air quality observations and instrumentation, advances in air quality prediction and forecasting, understanding interactions of air quality with meteorology and climate, exposure and health assessment, and air quality management and policy. In conducting the review, specific objectives were (i) to address current developments that push the boundaries of air quality research forward, (ii) to highlight the emerging prominent gaps of knowledge in air quality research and (iii) and to make recommendations to guide the direction for future research within the wider community. This review also identifies areas of particular importance for air quality policy. The original concept of this review was borne at the International Conference on Air Quality 2020 (held online due to the COVID 19 restrictions during 18–26 May 2020), but the article incorporates a wider landscape of research literature within the field of air quality science. On air pollution emissions the review highlights, in particular, the need to reduce uncertainties in emissions from diffuse sources, particulate matter chemical components, shipping emissions and the importance of considering both indoor and outdoor sources. There is a growing need to have integrated air pollution and related observations from both ground based and remote sensing instruments, including especially those on satellites. The research should also capitalize on the growing area of lower cost sensors, while ensuring a quality of the measurements which are regulated by guidelines. Connecting various physical scales in air quality modelling is still a continual issue, with cities being affected by air pollution gradients at local scales and by long range transport. At the same time, one should allow for the impacts from climate change on a longer timescale. Earth system modelling offers considerable potential by providing a consistent framework for treating scales and processes, especially where there are significant feedbacks, such as those related to aerosols, chemistry and meteorology. Assessment of exposure to air pollution should consider both the impacts of indoor and outdoor emissions, as well as apply more sophisticated, dynamic modelling approaches. With particulate matter being one of the most important pollutants for health, research is indicating the urgent need to understand, in particular, the role of particle number and chemical components in terms of health impact, which in turn requires improved emission inventories and models for predicting high resolution distributions of these metrics over cities. The review also examines, how air pollution management needs to adapt to the above-mentioned new challenges and briefly considers the implications from the COVID-19 pandemic for air quality. Finally, we provide recommendations for air quality research and support for policy.

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“…In one community, data from a network of sensors are being used for local decision making. The data are categorized using a scale similar to the Air Quality Index (AQI) that provides public health recommendations and enables local schools to use this information to make decisions regarding outdoor activities [ 42 ]. There are also examples of sensors being used as “environmental health thermometers” for real-time decision making such as validating or invalidating suspected exposures to local sources [ 43 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The resources in the toolkit have the advantage of leveraging the results of a large-scale (nearly 400 sensor units deployed and over 350 community members engaged), long-term (with sensor deployments lasting up to three years) project conducted with 14 different California communities. The scope and scale, in particular, make this project unique compared to similar efforts [ 42 , 48 ]. The results of this project and the development of the educational toolkit are discussed to provide future CCS air quality projects and programs with the knowledge necessary to use and apply sensing technology and available resources to effectively and efficaciously engage, educate, and empower the public in air monitoring efforts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards the Development of a Sensor Educational Toolkit to Support Community and Citizen Science

Collier-Oxandale

Papapostolou

Feenstra

et al. 2022

Sensors

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As air quality sensors increasingly become commercially available, a deeper consideration of their usability and usefulness is needed to ensure effective application by the public. Much of the research related to sensors has focused on data quality and potential applications. While this information is important, a greater understanding of users’ experience with sensors would provide complementary information. Under a U.S. EPA-funded Science to Achieve Results grant awarded to the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California, titled “Engage, Educate, and Empower California Communities on the Use and Applications of Low-Cost Air Monitoring Sensors”, approximately 400 air quality sensors were deployed with 14 California communities. These communities received sensors and training, and they participated in workshops. Widely varying levels of sensor installation and engagement were observed across the 14 communities. However, despite differences between communities (in terms of participation, demographics, and socioeconomic factors), many participants offered similar feedback on the barriers to sensor use and strategies leading to successful sensor use. Here, we assess sensor use and participant feedback, as well as discuss the development of an educational toolkit titled “Community in Action: A Comprehensive Toolkit on Air Quality Sensors”. This toolkit can be leveraged by future community and citizen science projects to develop networks designed to collect air quality information that can help reduce exposure to and the emissions of pollutants, leading to improved environmental and public health.

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Performance of a Low-Cost Sensor Community Air Monitoring Network in Imperial County, CA

Cited by 12 publications

References 26 publications

Low‐cost air quality monitoring networks for long‐term field campaigns: A review

Low‐cost air quality monitoring networks for long‐term field campaigns: A review

Advances in Air Quality Research – Current and Emerging Challenges

Towards the Development of a Sensor Educational Toolkit to Support Community and Citizen Science

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