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  • Original Article
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GPS-based microenvironment tracker (MicroTrac) model to estimate time–location of individuals for air pollution exposure assessments: Model evaluation in central North Carolina

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 24, pages 412–420 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

A critical aspect of air pollution exposure assessment is the estimation of the time spent by individuals in various microenvironments (ME). Accounting for the time spent in different ME with different pollutant concentrations can reduce exposure misclassifications, while failure to do so can add uncertainty and bias to risk estimates. In this study, a classification model, called MicroTrac, was developed to estimate time of day and duration spent in eight ME (indoors and outdoors at home, work, school; inside vehicles; other locations) from global positioning system (GPS) data and geocoded building boundaries. Based on a panel study, MicroTrac estimates were compared with 24-h diary data from nine participants, with corresponding GPS data and building boundaries of home, school, and work. MicroTrac correctly classified the ME for 99.5% of the daily time spent by the participants. The capability of MicroTrac could help to reduce the time–location uncertainty in air pollution exposure models and exposure metrics for individuals in health studies.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jennifer Richmond-Bryant and Karen Wesson for review comments and helpful suggestions. MB was supported by the North Carolina State University/Environmental Protection Agency Cooperative Training Program in Environmental Sciences Research, Training Agreement CT833235-01-0 with North Carolina State University. YC was supported by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)/Environmental Protection Agency Research Participation Training Program (Interagency Agreement DW-89-92298301-0). Procedures involving humans were conducted in accordance with US EPA Order 1000.17 Change A1 (Policy and Procedures on Protection of Human Research Subjects). These procedures were reviewed and approved by the US EPA Human Subjects Research Review Official. Although this manuscript was reviewed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and approved for publication, it may not necessarily reflect official Agency policy. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Exposure Research Laboratory, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Michael S Breen, Bradley D Schultz, Kristin K Isaacs, Yu-Mei Tan, Ronald W Williams & Timothy J Buckley

  2. National Center for Environmental Assessment, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Thomas C Long & Ye Cao

  3. National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    James Crooks, Miyuki Breen & Robert B Devlin

  4. Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    John E Langstaff

  5. Immediate Office of the Assistant Administrator, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Andrew M Geller

  6. Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Stuart A Batterman

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  1. Michael S Breen
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Correspondence to Michael S Breen.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology website

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Breen, M., Long, T., Schultz, B. et al. GPS-based microenvironment tracker (MicroTrac) model to estimate time–location of individuals for air pollution exposure assessments: Model evaluation in central North Carolina. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 24, 412–420 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2014.13

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