Urban Air Pollution

The E3 Lab is collaborating with Arizona State University in evaluating localized air pollution using low-cost sensors (LCS) in Phoenix, AZ. Multiple LCS have been deployed to measure the concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is a pollutant that poses health risks, especially for children. Sources of pollution may include traffic exhaust, windblown dust and industrial emissions. We aim to investigate the effectiveness of low-cost sensors in providing hyperlocal air quality data, capturing pollution trends that may be missed by regulatory monitors. Localized monitoring at schools using LCS can inform targeted exposure reduction strategies and protect children's health in urban communities. 

This project is part of the larger Central Arizona–Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) program. CAP LTER is a multi-disciplinary, urban ecological investigation of the socio-ecological systems in central Arizona.