Topics for this conference include:
Policy and Air Quality Management
Lead Chairs: Kristen Benedict, US Environmental Protection Agency & Mohammed Ayoub, Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute
Co-Chairs: Ajith Kadwella, California Air Resources Board, Alena Bartonova, NILU Climate and Environment Research Institute, Amanda Kaufman, US Environmental Protection Agency, Eric Stevenson, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Walter Ham, California Air Resources Board
An overview of international perspectives on air sensor policies and regulations, the use of sensors for air quality management, exploring the differences between sensors and regulatory monitors, and efforts to respond to questions concerning data generated by non-regulatory devices.
Current Invited Speakers:
- Lance Giles, Air Monitoring and Data Quality Coordinator, Lane Regional Air Protection Agency
- Zhi Ning, Associate Professor, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Sophie Moukhtar, Coordinator of International Relations, Airparif
Performance Targets
Lead Chairs: Vasu Kilaru, US Environmental Protection Agency & Vasileios Papapostolou, South Coast Air Quality Management District
Co-Chairs: Walter Ham, California Air Resources Board
Why do we need performance targets? What purpose do they serve? How good do sensors need to be for a given application? What work is being done in this area in the US, EU, elsewhere? How do performance targets relate to the use and application of sensors? What are the test procedures to determine if targets are achieved? What is the guidance to general users about the use, siting, deployment, and quality assurance when embarking on a sensor monitoring project? If you've been asking these questions, be sure to attend this session!
Current Invited Speakers:
Exposure & Health
Lead Chairs: Alena Bartonova, NILU & Edmund Seto, University of Washington
Co-Chairs: Amanda Kaufman, US Environmental Protection Agency, R. Subramanian, CNRS, John Volkens, Colorado State University, Susan Stone, US Environmental Protection Agency
This session will cover what a 1- or 15-minute high PM concentration would mean for our health. We will discuss leveraging air quality data to encourage behaviors that reduce air pollution exposures, advancing policies that reduce air pollution exposures and methods in collecting physiological data in tandem with air quality data.
Current Invited Speakers:
Source Characterization & Identification
Lead Chairs: Walter Ham, California Air Resources Board & Trisha Curran, US Environmental Protection Agency
Co-Chairs: R. Subramanian, CNRS, Trisha Curran, US Environmental Protection Agency
This session will discuss the use of sensors and sensor networks to identify and characterize air pollutant sources. Relevant topics include source triangulation and fence-line monitoring; plume, leak, or event detection; field studies; and novel methods used to characterize source emission profiles.
Current Invited Speakers:
- Thomas Kirchstetter, Adjunct Professor, University of California, Berkeley
- Michael Hannigan, Professor, University of Colorado, Boulder
- David Hagan, Research Associate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT
Data
Lead Chairs: Jennifer Gabrys, University of Cambridge & Tim Dye, TD Environmental
Co-Chairs: Vasu Kilaru, US Environmental Protection Agency, R. Subramanian, CNRS, Eric Stevenson, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Suresh Dhaniyala, Clarkson University, Adrian Dybwad, Purple Air, David Ridley, California Air Resources Board, John White, US Environmental Protection Agency, Andrea Clements, US Environmental Protection Agency, Ian VonWald, US Environmental Protection Agency
This session will encompass Data Analytics, Assimilation, Sharing and Harmonization. The session encompasses a variety of topics for sensor data, ranging from statistical methodologies for data validation and analysis, to big data computing frameworks and machine learning, to computer applications for data interpretation and mapping. Additionally, there will be discussion on standards that facilitate transparency and re-use of data and are a core aspect of the FAIR Principle (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Finally, there is an overarching theme in merging sensor data with regulatory data and how best that can be accomplished project wise and perhaps an ongoing operational basis for governmental agencies.
Innovative Technologies and Applications
Lead Chairs: R. Subramanian, CNRS & Michael Ogletree, City of Denver Environmental Public Health
Co-Chairs: Mohammed Ayoub, Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Vasileios Papapostolou, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Suresh Dhaniyala, Clarkson University, Ron Evans, US Environmental Protection Agency
This session will encompass a wide array of technologies focusing on air quality sensors and their applications. The overarching goal is to present technologies in development and use cases that will provide better data collection and better characterization of air pollution and improve our understanding of its potential impacts on human health.
Current Invited Speakers:
- Aron Jazcilevich, Ph.D, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
- Krystal Pollitt, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Public Health
- Lara Gundel, Chemist Staff Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Kirah Theuri, Technologist, Code for Africa
Use of Networked Sensors
Lead Chairs: Adrian Dybwad, Purple Air & David Ridley, California Air Resources Board
Co-Chairs: Mohammed Ayoub, Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute, Vasileios Papapostolou, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Jingkun Jiang, Tsinghua University, Suresh Dhaniyala, Clarkson University, Alena Bartonova, NILU, Jennifer Gabrys, University of Cambridge, Calvin Cupini, Clean Air Carolina, Tim Dye, TD Environmental, Michael Ogletree, City of Denver Environmental Public Health, David Ridley, California Air Resources Board
The lower cost of sensor technology, relative to traditional monitoring methods, provides a novel opportunity to deploy instruments at a much higher density than previously possible. Dense, distributed networks open the door to new methods of understanding sources and tracking the evolution of pollutants. However, interpreting the large volume of data generated, dealing with calibration of the sensors, and the subsequent measurement uncertainty is an ongoing challenge. This session will explore recent developments and case studies in utilizing sensor technologies to augment traditional monitoring, identify sources, and better understand spatial heterogeneity in air pollutants.
- Kerry Kelly, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Utah
- Alberto Mexia, Certuit Software Director and Creator, Redspira
- Joshua Apte, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
- Michael Ogletree, Air Quality Program Manager, Department of Public Health and Environment, City and County of Denver
Funding Opportunities
Lead Chairs: R. Subramanian, CNRS, Calvin Cupini, Clean Air Carolina, & Adam Giandomenico, Particles Plus
This session will bring speakers from different funding sectors that are interested in pursuing low-cost sensor research and deployments, including government, non-profit organizations, and financial institutions. There will be a panel session where attendees can pose their questions.
Current Invited Speakers:
- Liam O'Fallon, Health Science Specialist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- Calvin Cupini, Citizen Science Program Manager, Clean Air Carolina
- Stephanie Shaw, Principal Technical Leader, Electrical Power Research Institute
- Jessica Seddon, Global Lead, Air Quality, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities
Youth Education & Development
Lead Chairs: Ajith Kadwella, California Air Resources Board & Calvin Cupini, Clean Air Carolina
Co-Chairs: Tim Dye, TD Environmental, Michael Ogletree, City of Denver Environmental Public Health
This session will highlight the experiences of teachers and government representatives working with students on sensors, and youth programs for citizen science. Curriculum development, and outreach and communication issues will be discussed.
Indoor Air Quality
Lead Chairs: John Volkens, Colorado State University & Suresh Dhaniyala, Clarkson University
Co-Chairs: Ajith Kadwella, California Air Resources Board, Eric Stevenson, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Alison Clune, US Environmental Protection Agency, Karoline Barkjohn, US Environmental Protection Agency
The indoor environment has a greater impact on human health, well-being, and productivity than any other sector, yet beyond temperature we have virtually no real-time information that would result in more beneficial indoor environments. Smart phones and cars have a wider range of sensors than buildings, which means there is huge potential and value if indoor sensors were as ubiquitous and efficient as sensors in these sectors. This session will begin to address the value and challenges of indoor sensors, as well as current technologies, socio-economic and citizen science implications, and results of recent studies.
- Ellison Carter, Assistant Professor, Colorado State University
- Brett Singer, Staff Scientist and Indoor Environment Group Leader, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Brent Stephens, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Gary Adamkiewicz, Assistant Professor, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Deploying Air Quality Sensors by Communities
Lead Chairs: Amanda Kaufman, US Environmental Protection Agency & Paul English, California Department of Public Health
Co-Chairs: John Volkens, Colorado State University, Calvin Cupini, Clean Air Carolina, Adrian Dybwad, Purple Air, Jennifer Gabrys, University of Cambridge, David Ridley, California Air Resources Board
The involvement of communities in air quality research has increased rapidly in the last decade, along with the emergence of low-cost sensor technologies. In this session, we will hear from international and domestic speakers who have developed community air monitoring networks and projects, with emphasis on successes and lessons learned. Topics will include the role of partnerships, data quality, the effect of community research on relevance of research questions, knowledge production, and impact on health policies.
Current Invited Speakers:
Communication and Interpretation of AQ Data
Lead Chairs: Nealson Watkins, US Environmental Protection Agency, Ron Evans, US Environmental Protection Agency & Melissa Lunden, Aclima
The public is seeing an increasing amount of real-time, localized air quality information being shared by various public and private entities– information that is often communicated on the web or smartphones in an inconsistent manner. Confusion over this information exists because data is being generated for different purposes, needs, and users resulting in varied outputs. This session will focus on hearing from State, Federal and private officials on how they are delivering information and some of the issues they see and would like to address.