Development of a Performance Evaluation Protocol for Air Sensors Deployed on a Google Street View Car

Performance evaluation studies of low-cost sensors (LCS) measuring air pollutants have been conducted by academic and governmental groups for stationary applications. In contrast, evaluation protocols are nonexistent for LCS used in mobile deployments, though LCS are used in this manner by research...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2021-02, Vol.55 (3), p.1477-1486
Main Authors: Mui, Wilton, Der Boghossian, Berj, Collier-Oxandale, Ashley, Boddeker, Steven, Low, Jason, Papapostolou, Vasileios, Polidori, Andrea
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Pollutants - analysis
Air pollution
Air Pollution - analysis
Air pollution measurements
Air quality
Anthropogenic Impacts on the Atmosphere
Automobiles
Coastal zone management
Environmental control
Environmental Monitoring
Laboratory tests
Measuring instruments
Monitoring instruments
Particulate Matter - analysis
Performance evaluation
Pollutants
Protocol
Quality management
Roofs
Sensors
Test procedures
Testing procedures
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Summary:Performance evaluation studies of low-cost sensors (LCS) measuring air pollutants have been conducted by academic and governmental groups for stationary applications. In contrast, evaluation protocols are nonexistent for LCS used in mobile deployments, though LCS are used in this manner by research groups and may be employed to complement regulatory directives for community monitoring. Mobile measurements with LCS are a nascent but growing use-case, and questions of data quality will become increasingly important. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center has developed the first evaluation protocol in which LCS are compared to reference- or research-grade instruments while deployed on a ground-based mobile platform. LCS are assessed in test scenarios of various degrees of environmental control, ranging from placement in a controlled flow sampling duct to unsheltered mounting on a vehicle rooftop. The testing procedures aim to quantify the performance of LCS and the effects of sensor siting, orientation, and vehicle velocity, the results of which can guide users on appropriate LCS and configurations for their applications. Unexpected performance effects have been revealed through pilot-testing of this evaluation protocol that would likely have not been known from stationary field and laboratory testing.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.0c05955