Air Sensors - An EPA Perspective

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the availability and deployment of new innovative measurement and information technologies. EPA recognizes that these technologies are fostering a tremendous amount of new air quality data. Low cost sensors, smart city networks, high end instruments producing real-time results, mobile monitors, satellites, and cloud-based data management platforms are creating data streams that are different from traditional, high-quality pollutant measurements required for regulatory purposes. This presentation will focus on three key areas of focus for air sensors, 1) data quality, 2) data interpretation and, 3) data management. EPA will present known uncertainties related to these focus areas and discuss projects aimed at addressing these concerns. Uncertainties in air sensor measurements include, but are not limited to, how well real-time measurements meet basic data quality indicators of performance (e.g., precision, accuracy), the accuracy of pollutant measurements under different meteorological conditions, how to interpret short-term air quality measurement values in a scientifically credible way, and data privacy and ownership issues. Initiatives such as the development of performance targets and testing protocols and recommendations on the interpretation and display of disparate datasets will be presented.