Open-seneca: development of a low cost air quality sensor network and its implementation to measure PM2.5 in the city of Buenos Aires, powered by citizen science
Presented By: Peter Pedersen, University of Cambridge
Summary: Air quality reference stations provide data with low spatial and temporal resolution. They are also expensive, inhibiting their implementation in low-income countries. The design of mobile air quality sensors with a cost below £100 per unit is presented here together with the implementation of a citizen science monitoring scheme of PM2.5 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During 7 weeks, 20 mobile sensors were used to gather over 400,000 data points across 3,500 km. Hourly mean PM2.5 values between 0 and 70 µg/m³ were measured and compared to a reference station. By doing a data baseline correction using different measures of centre in the data set from 15-minute periods, the method identified 20 pollution hotspots. Quadrants between 200 and 400 m2 with PM2.5>30 µg/m³ above the baseline can be visualized using a new methodology of interactive online maps. The data from this mobile sensor network is complementary to and enriches that of a stationary station. Insights on the added value of citizen engagement are also outlined. The expansion of these schemes offers strong potential for monitoring air quality in urban areas, particularly those that do not currently have reference stations and have limited financial resources.