How low cost monitoring network would be useful for real time air pollution observations, predictions and health impact studies? A project on particulate matter pollution in urban Coimbatore, India

There is a growing realization that low cost monitoring network would be an important enabler for high spatial resolution air pollution observations and related applications. EPA's recent draft report on “road map for next generation air monitoring” specifically emphasizes such requirements(1). Field trails also, show that low cost sensors with advanced calibration techniques would be an important asset for real time air observation (2). The experiences shows that, it involves the huge challenges in terms of tuning sensing technology, data management, networks sustenance and the collected information's better usage  (3).      

The ongoing case study on particulate matter pollution in urban Coimbatore, a fast growing urban conglomerate in the Tamil Nadu, India is intended to address this question of how low cost monitoring network would be useful for real time air pollution observations, predictions and health impact studies. We here propose an open hardware development route with sensor web enablement for standardization, community involvement and engagement tool for community sensing, application derivation, and sustenance of the network. By following the open hardware development route, the study intends to develop a low cost sensor that would act as an important enabler for high spatial resolution sensing (since low cost would mean more sensors) and further development in public domain. Using the sensor web enablement, the project foresees better management of sensors and its network with more intuitive information models and services capabilities of a typical sensor network. By involving common public in possible ways for developing this network, the project is expected to establish a community sensor platform for air pollution problems and thus ensures the sustenance of network helpful for further research. 

Reference:

1. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2013). DRAFT road map for next generation air monitoring. https://sites.google.com/site/airsensors2013/background/ASAP%20FINAL%20draft%20Roadmap_2013_03_08.docx?attredirects=0. Accessed on 25th March 2013.

2. D Hasenfratz, O Saukh, and L Thiele. On-the-flycalibration of low-cost gas sensors. In Springer EWSN, 2012.

3. K Aberer, S Sathe, D Chakraborty, A Martinoli, G Barrenetxea, B Faltings and L Thiele (2010). OpenSense: Open Community Driven Sensing of  Environment. IWGS ’10, San Jose, CA, USA.