Gordon Pierce WESTAR Fall Business Meeting Denver, CO November 6, 2013.

Gordon PierceWESTAR Fall Business Meeting

Denver, CONovember 6, 2013

ProblemSmall, low-cost air monitors are becoming

common and easy to obtainAnyone can monitor and post data to a

websiteQuality of the data are unknownHard for agencies to deal with after data

are outEPA has held a series of “Air Sensors”

workshops at RTP focused on next-generation air monitoring

Most recent was in March 20132

OverviewLow cost = less than $2000, many less

than $1000Small, easy to transportSome put out high quality dataData easy to uploadMany samplers do not currently have

adequate validationCommunications are lackingO3, CO, CO2, NO2, PM and VOC are the

most common applications being developed

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What is being done?EPA has held a series of “Air Sensors”

workshops at RTP focused on next-generation air monitoring

Most recent was in March 2013Goal is to get information to vendors on:

What types of monitoring is needed?What are typical ambient levels of pollutants?What types of sensors are available?What validation/calibration is needed?What documentation is needed?

Want to put the responsibility on manufacturers for their product

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EPA5

White, Univ. of Calif. Berkeley6

FutureNext-generation samplers are here and

their use will expandWill likely become a key component of

health careEPA needs to get out in front

Better communication with manufacturers, communities, regulators

Clearinghouse is needed with toolboxBetter health-risk data are neededPossibly restart the Environmental Technology

Verification (ETV) program

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EPA Draft RoadmapIntended to summarize major

findings from literature reviews, workshops, and discussions with experts about Next Generation of Air Monitoring (NGAM), particularly sensor technologies.

Developed to share EPAs early thinking about how best to support the successful development and use of new monitoring technologies

Identifies key issues in need of EPA leadership and an ambitious set of priority objectives for EPA and other partners to address

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Example: EPA Village Green ProjectSolar-powered air-monitoring system

designed and incorporated into a park benchEPA began testing the system in the summer

of 2013Measures O3, particulates, meteorologyAir pollution and weather data are

automatically sent to the Village Green Project website

http://villagegreen.epa.gov

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Example: AirCastingPlatform for recording, mapping, and sharing

health and environmental data using your smartphone

Connects to the AirCasting Android app over Bluetooth

CO and NO2 sensorsPlans and self-build for $200www.habitatmap.org

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Example: Air Quality EggEgg-shaped base station receives the

wirelessly transmitted data from the sensor box outside

Relays that data to the Internet via a wired Ethernet connection

CO and NO2 sensorsPurchase for $185www.airqualityegg.com

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Example: M-PodDeveloped by University of ColoradoO3, NO2, CO, CO2, VOC, temperature, RHData uploaded to mobile device and webCosts $300

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Example: DylosLaser Particle Counter with 2 size ranges Store up to 30 days of air quality history Costs $200 - $300 (depending on options)www.dylosproducts.com

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Example: CitiSenseData wirelessly transmitted to the user’s

smartphoneDisplayed on the smartphone via a custom

appDisplay also utilizes the EPA’s color code

scaleO3, CO, NO2

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Questions?

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