Collection 

Applications of Low-Cost Sensors in Air Quality Measurement

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There are many diverse roles for air quality measurements. These include protection of public health, monitoring compliance with air quality standards and objectives, identification of sources, evaluation of trends, and research into atmospheric processes. Typically, in the past, monitoring networks were normally comprised of high grade instruments designed to measure with the high levels of accuracy and precision required to comply with the protocols set for statutory monitoring.  As such instruments were built to meet exacting standards, they were inevitable expensive, and deployments were hence typically at low spatial density.

Over the past decade or so, automatic instruments of greater simplicity and lower cost have come onto the market. These are typically of lower accuracy and precision than the high grade instruments used in statutory networks, and cannot meet the technical specifications required for those networks. They can, however satisfy several of the other applications of air quality measurements, and have the advantage that their lower cost allows them to be deployed at greater spatial density. This high density of deployment can yield insights not available from a low density network, and measurements from some of the more sophisticated low cost devices are being used in other applications, such as receptor modelling for source apportionment.

Through this Collection, we are seeking to illustrate the capabilities and applications, as well as recognising some of the limitations, of low cost air quality sensors, with a view to guiding potential users and stimulating adoption for new and existing applications in which they can offer distinct advantages.

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Hand protecting the earth with weather meter concept. Check good air quality and clean outside air quality. Safe from pollution, PM 2.5 dust, has a green background.

Editors

Roy M. Harrison, PhD, University of Birmingham, UK
Professor Roy Harrison leads the Environmental Health Sciences Group in the School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham. He is an atmospheric chemist, with a particular interest in aerosols, including their effects upon human health.  His research specialism is in air pollution on an urban scale, from emissions through atmospheric chemical and physical transformations to exposure and effects on human health. Much of this work is designed to inform the development of policy. 

Prashant Kumar, PhD, University of Surrey, UK
Prof Kumar is a founding Co-Director of the pan-university Institute for Sustainability, Professor & Chair in Air Quality and Health, and founding Director of the internationally-leading research centre Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) at the University of Surrey, UK. He is the founder of successfully running Guildford Living Lab, a Trustee at Zero Carbon Guildford (ZERO), an Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland; and a Guest Professor at Southeast University, China. His cross-disciplinary research is focused on the interfaces of clean air engineering, human health and smart/sustainable living in cities/megacities. His current research projects are focused on broad multidisciplinary areas of air pollution monitoring/modelling, low-cost sensing, nature-based solutions, climate change mitigation and developing innovative technological and passive (e.g. green infrastructure) solutions for air pollution exposure control for both developing and developed world. Further information on his work can be found here.