EPA Researchers Update the Air Sensor Guidebook
Published February 2, 2023
EPA researchers have released the “Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook.” If you are interested in starting a community air monitoring project using air sensors, this is a resource for you!
EPA released the original Air Sensor Guidebook in 2014 to provide individuals with information about collecting air quality measurements using air sensors and interpreting sensor data. This popular resource has been extremely helpful, especially with the increased availability of air sensors. Now, with expanded scientific knowledge on air sensors and best practices for using sensors, EPA decided it was time to update the Guidebook. This effort was led by EPA researchers and co-authors Dr. Andrea Clements and Dr. Rachelle Duvall.
The Guidebook identifies best practices for using air sensors and provides recommendations for planning and implementing a study to save time, effort, and money and ultimately help users collect useful data. EPA’s Enhanced Guidebook provides up-to-date information on air sensors and their use in a format that is accessible to a variety of audiences.
“In particular, we think users will really appreciate the infographics which try to illustrate or summarize key information,” Clements says.
The Enhanced Guidebook contains four chapters (listed below). Each chapter contains additional resources if users want to dig deeper on a specific topic.
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Air Sensors and the Guidebook
- Chapter 2: Air Quality 101
- Chapter 3: Monitoring Using Air Sensors
- Chapter 4: Sensor Performance Guidance
Chapter 3 is one of the most important sections of the Guidebook as it provides users with a roadmap, or planning wheel, for developing strategies to collect air quality measurements. Each part of the planning wheel is discussed, giving more detailed guidance on topics including sensor selection, siting, collocation, data analysis, communicating results, and inspiring action. In Chapter 4, users can learn how sensor performance is evaluated and how they might use the results to decide which sensor to purchase. Duvall says, “Sensor performance is important to understand because sensor data quality varies. The Guidebook walks users through the basics of sensor performance evaluations and how to review a sensor performance report.”
The Guidebook also contains several appendices which highlight:
- Resources for sensors
- Questions to consider when planning a study, collecting sensor data, and sharing results
- Checklists for maintaining a sensor and what to look for in a sensor and user manual
- Data handling and the Air Quality Index (AQI)
- How to interpret a sensor performance evaluation using EPA’s recommended template from the Air Sensor Performance Targets and Testing Protocols reports
Another useful aspect of the Enhanced Guidebook is a glossary of terms for user convenience. The glossary easily connects users to technical terms used throughout the Guidebook. In the future, EPA hopes to maintain the information in the Appendices on the Air Sensor Toolbox website. Clements says, "Information on air sensors is continually changing and growing, so we want to make sure that users can access new resources as they become available."
The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook will be instrumental in helping users grow their understanding of using air sensors for supplemental monitoring or other purposes. As the science surrounding air sensors expands, EPA is striving to make sure our information expands with it. Visit EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox website for more air sensor related information.
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