Articles | Volume 7, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1121-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-7-1121-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Field calibrations of a low-cost aerosol sensor at a regulatory monitoring site in California
D. M. Holstius
University of California, Berkeley, USA
A. Pillarisetti
University of California, Berkeley, USA
K. R. Smith
University of California, Berkeley, USA
E. Seto
University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Related authors
No articles found.
Mark Joseph Campmier, Jonathan Gingrich, Saumya Singh, Nisar Baig, Shahzad Gani, Adithi Upadhya, Pratyush Agrawal, Meenakshi Kushwaha, Harsh Raj Mishra, Ajay Pillarisetti, Sreekanth Vakacherla, Ravi Kant Pathak, and Joshua S. Apte
Atmos. Meas. Tech., 16, 4357–4374, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4357-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-16-4357-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We studied a low-cost air pollution sensor called PurpleAir PA-II in three different locations in India (Delhi, Hamirpur, and Bangalore) to characterize its performance. We compared its signal to more expensive reference sensors and found that the PurpleAir sensor was precise but inaccurate without calibration. We created a custom calibration equation for each location, which improved the accuracy of the PurpleAir sensor, and found that calibrations should be adjusted for different seasons.
Cited articles
Aoki, P. M., Honicky, R. J., Mainwaring, A., Myers, C., Paulos, E., Subramanian, S., and Woodruff, A.: A Vehicle for Research: Using Street Sweepers to Explore the Landscape of Environmental Community Action, CHI 2009, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 2009.
Bay Area Air Quality Management District – BAAQMD: The Community Air Risk Evaluation (CARE) program, available at: http://www.baaqmd.gov/Divisions/Planning-and-Research/CARE-Program.aspx, last access: 26 April 2014.
Balzano, L.: Addressing fault and calibration in wireless sensor networks, University of California, Los Angeles, 2007.
Brauer, M., Amann, M., Burnett, R. T., Cohen, A., Dentener, F., Ezzati, M., Henderson, S. B., Krzyzanowski, M., Martin, R. V., Van Dingenen, R., van Donkelaar, A., and Thurston, G. D.: Exposure assessment for estimation of the global burden of disease attributable to outdoor air pollution, Environ. Sci. Technol., 46, 652–660, https://doi.org/10.1021/es2025752, 2011.
Brugge, D., Rivera-Carrasco, E., Zotter, J., and Leung, A.: Community-based participatory research in Boston's neighborhoods: a review of asthma case examples, Arch. Environ. Occup. H., 65, 38–44, https://doi.org/10.1080/19338240903390214, 2010.
Budde, M., Busse, M., and Beigl, M.: Investigating the use of commodity dust sensors for the embedded measurement of particulate matter, Ninth International Conference on Networked Sensing Systems (INSS), Antwerp, Belgium, 2012.
Burkart, J., Steiner, G., Reischl, G., Moshammer, H., Neuberger, M., and Hitzenberger, R.: Characterizing the performance of two optical particle counters (Grimm OPC1.108 and OPC1.109) under urban aerosol conditions, J. Aerosol Sci., 41, 953–962, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaerosci.2010.07.007, 2010.
Chow, J. C., Engelbrecht, J. P., Watson, J. G., Wilson, W. E., Frank, N. H., and Zhu, T.: Designing monitoring networks to represent outdoor human exposure, Chemosphere, 49, 961–978, 2002.
Chowdhury, Z., Edwards, R. D., Johnson, M., Naumoff Shields, K., Allen, T., Canuz, E., and Smith, K. R.: An inexpensive light-scattering particle monitor: field validation, J. Environ. Monitor., 9, 1099–1106, https://doi.org/10.1039/b709329m, 2007.
CITI-SENSE: Development of sensor-based Citizens' Observatory Community for improving quality of life in cities, 7th EC RTD Framework Program, contract No. 308524, aqvailable at: http://www.citi-sense.eu/, last access: 26 April 2014.
Demuth, D., Nuest, D., Bröring, A., and Pebesma, E.: The AirQuality SenseBox, EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Vol. 15, p. 5146, 2013.
DiSalvo, C., Louw, M., Holstius, D., Nourbakhsh, I., and Akin, A.: Toward a public rhetoric through participatory design: critical engagements and creative expression in the Neighborhood Networks Project, Des. Issues, 28, 48–61, https://doi.org/10.1162/DESI_a_00161, 2012.
Dutta, P., Aoki, P. M., Kumar, N., Mainwaring, A., Myers, C., Willett, W., and Woodruff, A.: Common Sense: Participatory urban sensing using a network of handheld air quality monitors, ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems, Berkeley, CA, 2009.
Edwards, R. D., Smith, K. R., Kirby, B., Allen, T., Litton, C. D., and Hering, S.: An inexpensive dual-chamber particle monitor: laboratory characterization, J. Air Waste Manage., 56, 789–799, 2006.
European Union: Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, Brussels, Belgium, 1–44, 2008.
Fujita, E. M. and Campbell, D.: West Oakland Monitoring Study, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, 1–115, 2010.
Fujita, E. M., Campbell, D. E., Patrick Arnott, W., Lau, V., and Martien, P. T.: Spatial variations of particulate matter and air toxics in communities adjacent to the Port of Oakland, J. Air Waste Manage., 63, 1399–1411, https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2013.824393, 2013.
Gonzalez, P., Minkler, M., Garcia, A., Gordon, M., Garzón, C., Palaniappan, M., Prakash, S., and Beveridge, B.: Community-based participatory research and policy advocacy to reduce diesel exposure in West Oakland, California, Am. J. Public Health, 101, S166–S175, https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2010.196204, 2011.
Harrison, J. L.: Parsing "participation" in action research: navigating the challenges of lay involvement in technically complex participatory science projects, Soc. Natur. Resour., 24, 702–716, https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920903403115, 2011.
Hasenfratz, D., Saukh, O., and Thiele, L.: On-the-fly calibration of low-cost gas sensors, Conference on Wireless Sensor Networks (EWSN), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 228–244, 2012.
Hedges, S.: Planning and implementing a real-time air pollution monitoring and outreach program for your community, US EPA National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH, 2002.
Honicky, R., Brewer, E., Paulos, E., and White, R.: N-smarts: networked suite of mobile atmospheric real-time sensors, ACM SIGCOMM workshop on Networked systems for developing regions, 2008.
Jerrett, M., Arain, A., Kanaroglou, P., Beckerman, B., Potoglou, D., Sahsuvaroglu, T., Morrison, J., and Giovis, C.: A review and evaluation of intraurban air pollution exposure models, J. Expo. Anal. Env. Epid., 15, 185–204, 2005.
Jiang, Y., Li, K., Tian, L., Piedrahita, R., Yun, X., Mansata, O., Lv, Q., Dick, R. P., Hannigan, M., and Shang, L.: MAQS: A Personalized Mobile Sensing System for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing, Beijing, 271–280, 2011.
John, W.: Size distribution characteristics of aerosols, in: Aerosol Measurement: Principles, Techniques, and Applications, 3rd Edn., edited by: Kulkarni, P., Baron, P. A., and Willeke, K., John Wiley and Sons, New York, 41–54, 2011.
Kinney, P. L., Aggarwal, M., Northridge, M. E., Janssen, N. A., and Shepard, P. M.: Airborne concentrations of PM2.5 and diesel exhaust particles on Harlem sidewalks: a community-based pilot study, Environ. Health Persp., 108, 213–218, 2000.
Lighty, J. S., Veranth, J. M., and Sarofim, A. F.: Combustion aerosols: factors governing their size and composition and implications to human health, J. Air Waste Manage., 50, 1522–1565, 2000.
Litton, C. D., Smith, K. R., Edwards, R., and Allen, T.: Combined optical and ionization measurement techniques for inexpensive characterization of micrometer and submicrometer aerosols, Aerosol Sci. Tech., 38, 1054–1062, https://doi.org/10.1080/027868290883333, 2004.
Loh, P., Sugerman-Brozan, J., Wiggins, S., Noiles, D., and Archibald, C.: From asthma to AirBeat: community-driven monitoring of fine particles and black carbon in Roxbury, Massachusetts, Environ. Health Persp., 110, 297–301, 2002.
McCracken, J. P., Schwartz, J., Bruce, N., Mittleman, M., Ryan, L. M., and Smith, K. R.: Combining individual- and group-level exposure information: child carbon monoxide in the Guatemala woodstove randomized control trial, Epidemiology, 20, 127–136, https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b013e31818ef327, 2009.
Mead, M. I., Popoola, O. A. M., Stewart, G. B., Landshoff, P., Calleja, M., Hayes, M., Baldovi, J. J., McLeod, M. W., Hodgson, T. F., Dicks, J., Lewis, A., Cohen, J., Baron, R., Saffell, J. R., and Jones, R. L.: The use of electrochemical sensors for monitoring urban air quality in low-cost, high-density networks, Atmos. Environ., 70, 186–203, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2012.11.060, 2013.
Molenar, J. V.: Theoretical analysis of PM2.5 mass measurements by nephelometry, IMPROVE Project, available at: http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/publications/graylit/014_AerosolByNeph/AerosolbyNeph.pdf, last access: 26 April 2014.
Mun, M., Reddy, S., Shilton, K., Yau, N., Burke, J., Estrin, D., Hansen, M., Howard, E., West, R., and Boda, P.: PEIR, the personal environmental impact report, as a platform for participatory sensing systems research, Proceedings of the 7th international conference on mobile systems, applications, and services, 22–25 June 2009, Kraków, Poland, 55–68, 2009.
Nafis, C.: Automatically measuring and graphing air quality with an inexpensive device, available at: http://www.howmuchsnow.com/ arduino/airquality/, last access: 1 October 2012.
National Research Council: Exposure Science in the 21st Century: a Vision and a Strategy, The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 2012.
Nikzad, N., Verma, N., Ziftci, C., Bales, E., Quick, N., Zappi, P., Patrick, K., Dasgupta, S., Krueger, I., Rosing, T. Š., and Griswold, W. G.: CitiSense: Improving Geospatial Environmental Assessment of Air Quality Using a Wireless Personal Exposure Monitoring System, Proceedings of the International Conference on Wireless Health, San Diego, CA, 2012.
Northcross, A. L., Edwards, R. J., Johnson, M. A., Wang, Z.-M., Zhu, K., Allen, T., and Smith, K. R.: A low-cost particle counter as a realtime fine-particle mass monitor, Environ. Sci. Process. Impact., 15, 433–439, https://doi.org/10.1039/c2em30568b, 2013.
Olivares, G., Longley, I., and Coulson, G.: Development of a Low-Cost Device for Observing Indoor Particle Levels Associated with Source Activities in the Home, International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), Seattle, WA, 2012.
Ottinger, G.: Epistemic fencelines: air monitoring instruments and expert-resident boundaries, Spontaneous Generations, 3, 55–67, https://doi.org/10.4245/sponge.v3i1.6115, 2009
Pastor Jr., M., Morello-Frosch, R., and Sadd, J. L.: Air Pollution and Environmental Justice: Integrating Indicators of Cumulative Impact and Socio-Economic Vulnerability into Regulatory Decision-Making, Report No. 04-308, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA, 2010.
Paulos, E., Honicky, R. J., and Goodman, E.: Sensing Atmosphere, ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys), 6–9 November 2007, Sydney, Australia, 2007.
Pingkuan, D.: Diesel Particulate Matter Health Risk Assessment for the West Oakland Community, California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA, 2008.
Reid, S. B.: Documentation of emission estimation techniques for sources of diesel particulate matter (DPM) associated with truck-based businesses and construction projects in West Oakland, California, Contract No. 2006-144, STI-907006-3174-TM, Sonoma Technology, Petaluma, CA, 2007.
Shinyei Corp.: Specification Sheet of Particle Sensor Model PPD42NS, available at: http://www.sca-shinyei.com/pdf/PPD42NS.pdf (last access: 17 January 2014), 2010.
Smith, K. R.: Development of the UCB-L Particle Monitor for Future California Applications in Environmental Justice, University of California, Berkeley, 2011.
Smith, P. A. and Clark, M.: Microsampling Air Pollution, The New York Times, p. D4, New York, available at: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/microsampling-air-pollution/, last access: 26 April 2014.
Snyder, E. G., Watkins, T. H., Solomon, P. A., Thoma, E. D., Williams, R. W., Hagler, G. S. W., Shelow, D., Hindin, D. A., Kilaru, V. J., and Preuss, P. W.: The changing paradigm of air pollution monitoring, Environ. Sci. Technol., 47, 11369–11377, 2013.
Teige, V. E., Havel, E., Patt, C., Heber, E., and Cohen, R. C.: Berkeley Atmospheric CO2 Network (BEACON): Bringing Measurements of CO2 Emissions to a School Near You, Abstract #ED53C-0814, Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA, 2011.
US EPA: National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter: Final Rule, Federal Register, Vol. 78, Part II: 40 CFR Parts 50, 51, 52 et al., Washington, D.C., 2012.
US EPA: Next Generation Air Monitoring Workshop Series, Air Sensors 2013: Data Quality & Applications, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2013.
Watson, J. G.: Visibility: science and regulation, J. Air Waste Manage., 52, 628–713, 2002.
Watson, J. G., Chow, J. C., Moosmüller, H., Green, M., Frank, N., and Pitchford, M.: Guidance for using continuous monitors in PM2.5 monitoring networks, Report no. EPA-454/R-98-012, US EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1998.
Whitby, K. T.: The physical characteristics of sulfur aerosols, Atmos. Environ., 12, 135–159, 1978.
Willett, W., Aoki, P. M., Kumar, N., and Subramanian, S.: Common Sense Community: scaffolding mobile sensing and analysis for novice users, in: Pervasive Computing, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 301–318, 2010.
Wilson, J. G., Kingham, S., Pearce, J., and Sturman, A. P.: A review of intraurban variations in particulate air pollution: implications for epidemiological research, Atmos. Environ., 39, 6444–6462, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2005.07.030, 2005.
Wilson, W. E. and Suh, H. H.: Fine particles and coarse particles: concentration relationships relevant to epidemiologic studies, J. Air Waste Manage., 47, 1238–1249, 1997.
Wilson, W. E., Chow, J. C., Claiborn, C., Fusheng, W., Engelbrecht, J., and Watson, J. G.: Monitoring of particulate matter outdoors, Chemosphere, 49, 1009–1043, 2002.
World Health Organization: WHO Air Quality Guidelines Global Update 2005: Report on a Working Group Meeting, 18–20 October 2005, Bonn, Germany, 2005.
Xiang, Y., Bai, L. S., Piedrahita, R., and Arbor, A.: Collaborative Calibration and Sensor Placement for Mobile Sensor Networks, The 11th ACM/IEEE Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks, 16–19 April 2012, Beijing, 2012.
Zappi, P., Bales, E., Park, J. H., Griswold, W., and Rosing, T. Š.: The CitiSense Air Quality Monitoring Mobile Sensor Node, IPSN Workshop on Mobile Sensing, Bejing, China, 2012.