Mapping hyperlocal air pollution to drive clean air policies
Presented By: Harold Rickenbacker, Environmental Defense Fund
Summary: Lower cost air quality sensors are redefining the power of comprehensive spatial-temporal data. But while technology is advancing and creating new hyperlocal insights, cities are struggling to turn that data into local solutions that clean the air and improve local health.
Figuring out how to design and deploy an air pollution monitoring system, and then developing clean air policies based on the data, can be daunting. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will help guide local leaders to scientifically rigorous, meaningful clean air decisions, by giving a behind-the-scenes look at our monitoring efforts in pilot cities across the globe.
Through partnerships with technology firms, scientists, grassroots organizations and city leaders, EDF has garnered best practices for using both mobile and stationery monitoring networks to inform land use zoning and permitting, implement emergency public health interventions, and advise the design of traffic management measures and transportation projects. Learn key takeaways from our work in:
• London, UK, to measure pollution levels before and after the introduction of a new Ultra Low Emissions Zone;
• Houston, TX, to identify elevated levels of benzene (~300 ppb) near petrochemical facilities after Hurricane Harvey; and
• West Oakland, CA, to develop city-wide exposure reduction strategies, such as truck management and electrification, to benefit nearby port communities.
EDF aims to create a resource center for city leaders and academics interested in using air pollution data to design new solutions, build political support for action, increase compliance, and hold polluters accountable. For example, our newly released how-to guide for hyperlocal air pollution monitoring (available at edf.org/cleanairguide) demonstrates how a new wave of transdisciplinary research bridging air pollution science, grassroots advocacy, and policy making and governance.