Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors: Interpretation and Use

Low-Cost Air Quality Sensors: Interpretation and Use
Thursday, May 1, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET

Low-cost air quality sensors (air sensors) have gained broad support over the past decade for their ability to measure air pollutants with good precision, typically particulate matter, at much lower costs than traditional air quality monitors. While air sensors are increasingly used to help track air quality conditions in the United States and other countries, their applications have limitations, and their data can pose challenges in interpretation.

This webinar will provide basic information on air sensors, future air sensor types, and methods for understanding and improving their performance. As an example, this webinar will illustrate PurpleAir monitoring of particulate matter at over 70 national parks. The webinar will also discuss the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) effort to improve the comparability of PurpleAir sensor data with regulatory-grade monitors.
     $99 A&WMA Member; $149 Nonmember
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Please be advised that only one user can log into the account to view the webinar and access cannot be shared. After registering, you will receive an email with an access link and instructions. Enter the web conference via the link 10 minutes prior to the webinar start time. You will need to log into the A&WMA account that was used to register for the event. 

Presenters: 

Helena Pliszka, Air Quality Data Scientist, TD Enviro
Helena Pliszka is an air quality data scientist whose work at TD Enviro focuses on community-driven data analysis to inform hyperlocal and regional air quality stakeholders and decisions. Their work is driven by the need to translate air quality measurements into meaningful frameworks that address awareness building, health outcomes and actionable strategies for stakeholders. 

William Malm, Senior Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University
William Malm is a Senior Research Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, Colorado State University. He is a recently retired research physicist in the National Park Service Air Resource Division where he was program coordinator for the visibility/particulate research and monitoring program. Dr. Malm’s expertise is in the general area of visibility and related topics. Many of the results from this work have been incorporated into the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program and the EPA Regional Haze Rule (RHR).

Karoline Barkjohn, Physical Scientist, Office of Research and Development, US EPA
Karoline Barkjohn is a Physical Scientist in EPA’s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Her research focuses on the evaluation and improvement of air sensor performance across the United States. In 2018 she received her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from Duke University. Karoline also holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in environmental engineering from Georgia Tech and NC State University, respectively.

Moderator: Bret Schichtel, Physical Scientist, Air Resource Division, National Park Service 
Bret Schichtel is a Physical Scientist in the National Park Service Air Resource Division, where he is the program coordinator for the visibility/particulate/nitrogen research and monitoring program. Dr. Schichtel’s research focuses on understanding the levels and origins of particulate matter, haze, and excess nitrogen deposition in remote areas.