AAAR 36th Annual Conference October 16 - October 20, 2017 Raleigh Convention Center Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Abstract View
Mapping Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone in Southern California Using Low-Cost Sensor Technologies
RACHELLE DUVALL, Ron Williams, Dena Vallano, Andrea Polidori, Brandon Feenstra, Vasileios Papapostolou, Sam Garvey, US EPA
Abstract Number: 74 Working Group: Urban Aerosols
Abstract The emergence of small, portable, low-cost air sensors has encouraged a shift from traditional monitoring approaches for air quality. Over the past years, EPA has been actively involved in the development and testing of these emerging sensor technologies as well as promoting informed use, deployment, and interpretation of data. EPA, in an effort involving the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC), deployed custom-built sensor pods measuring fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), relative humidity and temperature at nine locations throughout Southern California from January to April 2017. Southern California is an ideal testing location as it often experiences elevated air pollutant levels resulting from gasoline and diesel engines, ports, and industries. Meteorology (frequent sunny days and little precipitation) and geography also contribute to elevated pollution levels in the area. The goal of this project was to better understand performance and potential applications of low-cost sensors especially in the area of community monitoring. This presentation will highlight AQ-SPEC laboratory and field performance evaluations of the Citizen Science Air Monitor (CSAM) sensor pods designed and developed at EPA. In addition, this presentation will summarize the spatial and temporal variability of PM2.5 and O3 measurements collected at the monitoring locations which covered approximately a 200 km area in Southern California. This project will generate data that can be used to better understand air quality throughout the study area and provide the community with low-cost tools to measure air quality.
Disclaimer: Although this work was reviewed by EPA and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy.