Resources and Materials

Here you will find a collection of resources external to what RISE Communities provides, including links to other organizations who do air sensor research, open access education materials, guides on air sensor deployment, data collection, and analysis, and other materials intended to assist, grow, and provide momentum for your teams and projects. Please let us know what you would find helpful or if you have a resource to share.

Training

Air Sensor Stories: A Train the Trainer Program

These materials and workshop were developed to help diverse audiences understand the potential of user-friendly air quality sensors to address communities’ questions and concerns about particle pollution. It provides a basic introduction to the sources, regulations, and health effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), an overview of the many user-friendly models of sensors on the market, and an interactive “Action Plan” activity to help participants apply what they have learned to a real problem.  Optional interactive activities are provided to help participants explore key concepts and how sensors work. The workshop is designed to take between 1 and 3 hours, depending on how many hands-on activities are integrated.

Supported by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants to: University of Rochester (P30-ES01247), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (P30-ES010126), University of Texas Medical Branch (P30-ES006676), Columbia University (P30-ES009089), and WE ACT for Environmental Justice. 

PurpleAir Sensor Deployment and Setup

PurpleAir Sensor Installation Tutorial

THE NEED: Remote power source for air sensors

ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION: Solar power for an off-the grid source

LEARN MORE:

How to Collocate EPA and PurpleAir Sensors

Kendall Kubis provides a brief instructional guide on how to collocate EPA and PurpleAir sensors.

SD File Card Headers

This provides a list of the headers that PurpleAir Sensors log and their descriptions.

Calibration of PurpleAir Sensors

“A great advantage of the PurpleAir monitors is that they can be used indoors to provide the first actually measured long-term exposures to PM2.5 that we have. However, indoor concentrations are usually lower than outdoors, meaning that an even higher percentage of CF_1 measurements will fall below the LOD.”

Data Analysis and Visualization

What is the Difference Between CF=1, ATM, and ALT?

PurpleAir devices use Plantower laser counters to estimate the number of particles that pass through them. They also make estimations regarding the size of these particles, allowing us to find the volume that these particles occupy in any given space. However, the calculation of mass (which is the standard global measurement for particulate matter) requires volume and density. This is where _cf_1, _atm, and _alt are utilized.

Air Data: How to Create a Calendar Tile Plot (EPA)

Plot daily AQI values for a specific location and time period.

4. Air Sensor Projects: Comprehensive Guidebook & Acronyms and Glossary

Extensive document guiding the reader through understanding air pollution to planning and deploying an air sensor monitoring network to taking local action.

This acronym guide and glossary was developed and published as part of the Environmental Protections Agency’s Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook

5. RISE Project Resources: Cincy Air Watch

The City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Health Department partnered for an air quality project and participated in the first RISE training program cohort. They have provided some resources as a reference for developing materials for the community’s education and policy makers, as well as partnerships in data collection:

1. A summary document of their project and;

2. A revocable license agreement with a downtown library to allow Cincy Air Watch to use the building as a location for a PurpleAir monitor