Conferences, Workshops and Webinars on Air Sensor Technology
EPA hosts and participates in many conferences and webinars related to air sensors. Topics discussed include state-of-the-science of air sensor technologies, updates on EPA research projects, sensor applications, sensor performance targets, best practices for using sensors, and more.
For all upcoming events, including EPA hosted conferences, workshops and webinars on air sensors, visit the EPA Research Events calendar.
2024
Web-Based Data Visualization of Air Sensor Data with RETIGO Webinar - June 5, 2024
This webinar, recorded on June 5, 2024, highlighted the REal TIme Geospatial Data Viewer (RETIGO), a free, web-based visualization tool that allows users to easily visualize their air sensor data and compare the data they collect with other data sources such as nearby instruments that measure the same pollutants, wind measurements, satellite remote sensing data, or atmospheric model outputs. RETIGO uses a web-interface to display data on an interactive map and has graphs for data analysis.
2023
Next Generation Emissions Measurements Webinar - October 17, 2023
EPA’s Next Generation Emissions Measurements (NGEM) research program works with a range of partners to develop and test emerging air monitoring tools that can assist facilities in the detection and management of these air pollution sources. NGEM is helping industries reduce emissions and is enabling new measurement-based emissions management and inventory strategies. Lower-cost NGEM tools are now beginning to help fenceline communities better understand the air they breathe. This webinar provides a brief overview of several NGEM techniques that are useful at the intersection of industries and communities.
EPA Tools and Resources Webinar: The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook – April 26, 2023
Recognizing the ever-increasing availability of air sensors, expanding user base, and growing scientific knowledge, EPA updated the popular Air Sensor Guidebook, originally published in 2014. The refreshed version, called “The Enhanced Air Sensor Guidebook”, includes updated content and new topics that incorporate best practices, current knowledge, and recommendations to guide the use of air sensors. The Enhanced Guidebook supports users in planning and collecting air quality measurements using air sensors. This webinar provides an overview of the motivation and approach for updating the guidebook, a high-level overview of the content of each chapter and appendix, and EPA’s next steps, and anticipated outcomes and impacts of the guidebook.
2022
Sensor Pods for Volatile Organic Compound Fenceline Monitoring and Data Analysis Training – December 1, 2022
EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) Next Generation Emission Measurement (NGEM) program has developed lower cost fenceline Sensor Pods (SPods) and near-source data analysis approaches that enable a new form of air pollution source monitoring. In this webinar we review the progress from EPA SPod prototypes to commercially available versions, discuss example field applications, describe the best practices for use of the SPod, review set up and operation procedures, and highlight partnerships with EPA Region 4 (Southeast) and others.
AAAR 40th Annual Conference Presentations – October 3-7, 2022
The American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR) conference brought together scientists, engineers, and others to share the latest aerosol science and technology research.
EPA presentations included:
- Precision and Accuracy of PM2.5 Monitors: Impacts on Air Sensor Evaluations
- U.S. EPA Progress on Developing Performance Testing Protocols and Targets for Particulate Matter Air Sensors
Performance of PM2.5 and O3 Air Sensors Using EPA’s Performance Targets – August 31, 2022
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) air sensors have the potential to provide hyperlocal air quality information. However, their performance can be influenced by local conditions including pollutant concentration ranges, temperature, and relative humidity. In this talk we present preliminary results from 30-day evaluations using the standard performance testing protocols, metrics, targets, and visualizations recommended in EPA’s performance targets and testing protocols. As part of the Long-Term Performance Project, six air sensors were evaluated in triplicate at EPA’s Research Triangle Park (RTP), NC air monitoring site and as individual sensors at 6 remote sites including Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, Wilmington, DE, Atlanta, GA, Edmond, OK, and Milwaukee, WI. An additional 7 sensor types were evaluated in triplicate for 30 days just in RTP, NC as part of routine evaluation efforts. In many cases sensor accuracy could be improved by applying a linear correction, however performance is variable across sites highlighting the need for multiple evaluations.
National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference – August 22-25, 2022
EPA sensor related presentations included:
- A Brief Overview of Lessons Learned from Air Sensor Loan Pilot Programs (slides)
- Sensor Evaluations: The Impact of PM2.5 Monitor Type (slides)
- Atlanta Rail and Port Sensor (RAPS) Project: An Air Quality Pilot Study – Results and Lessons Learned (slides)
- Improving Tribal and Citizen Science with Low-Cost Air Sensor Collocation Shelters (slides)
- New Resources to Support the Use of Air Sensor – Updates to EPA’s Air Sensor Toolbox Webpage (poster)
- Understanding the air sensor data management, visualization, and analysis needs of government air quality organizations in the United States (poster)
EEPA’s Air Sensor Loan Pilot Programs: Successes, New Resources, and Lessons Learned – July 13, 2022
This webinar highlights EPA's air sensor loan pilot programs. Realizing the opportunity to raise interest and awareness of air quality issues, while simultaneously understanding that air sensors remain inaccessible to numerous potential users despite their reasonable cost, EPA’s Office of Research and Development in collaboration with EPA Regional Offices piloted a set of air sensor loan programs to promote environmental education. This webinar highlights the pilot air sensor loan programs, newly developed resources to support these programs including hands-on lesson plans, and other educational efforts. The presentation also discusses lessons learned and best practice suggestions for others interested in developing and offering similar air sensor loan programs in the future.
Air Sensors International Conference Presentations – May 11-13, 2022
The Air Sensors International Conference (ASIC) brought together different stakeholders from academia, government, communities, and commercial entities in a hybrid setting to promote and advance the use of air sensors and foster community involvement in community air monitoring.
EPA presentations included:
- AirNow Fire and Smoke Map (~15-min recording; slides)
- Communicating Air Sensor Data on the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map (recording; ~12-min recording; ~41-min webinar; slides)
- Expanding Stationary and Mobile PM2.5 Measurement Capabilities Near Fires (~11-min recording)
- Sensors in Smoke: Reducing Exposure to PM (~12-min recording)
- Highlights on U.S. EPA Efforts on Developing Performance Testing Protocols and Targets for Air Sensors (~11-min recording)
- sensortoolkit: A Python Library for Standardizing the Ingestion, Analysis, and Reporting of Air Sensor Data for Performance Evaluation (2-min video; poster; code library on PyPI or GitHub)
- The Enhanced U.S. EPA Air Sensor Guidebook (2-min video; poster)
- Making Air Pollution Visual – Educational Resources using Air Sensors to Explore Air Quality (2-min video; poster)
- Championing Environmental Awareness in Communities Through Air Sensor Loan Programs (~11-min recording)
- Air Sensor Data Management, Visualization, and Analysis: understanding and meeting the needs of government air quality organizations in the United States (~16-min conference recording; ~55-min webinar)
- Improving Tribal and Citizen Science with Air Sensor Collocation Shelters (~12-min recording; slides)
- Atlanta rail and Port Sensor Project – An Air Quality Pilot Study (poster)
- Evaluation of AQY1 Sensors and Implications for Community-Led Projects (poster)
- Incorporating Personal Monitoring Utilizing Low-Cost Sensors into the Undergraduate Curriculum (poster)
How to Evaluate Air Sensors for Smoke Monitoring - February 16, 2022
This webinar builds on EPA’s Air Sensor Performance Testing Protocols, Metrics, and Performance Targets with best practices for evaluating air sensors for smoke monitoring applications. Recommendations include testing over a wide concentration range, in multiple locations, and in network applications. Many of these lessons learned come from several years of using sensors for this application and from almost two years of including sensor data on the AirNow Fire and Smoke map.
2021
AirNow Fire and Smoke Map: Extension of the US-Wide Correction for PurpleAir PM2.5 Sensors - May 19, 2021
This webinar discussed the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and planned enhancements in advance of the 2021 western wildfire season. These updates include an extended U.S.-wide correction for PurpleAir sensors to improve the accuracy under extreme smoke.
Air Sensors International Conference Presentations – 2021 Virtual Series
The Air Sensors International Conference (ASIC), hosted by the University of California-Davis Air Quality Research Center, brought together different stakeholders from academia, government, communities, and commercial entities in a virtual setting to promote and advance air pollution sensors, improve the data quality from these sensors, expand the pollutants measured, and foster community involvement in monitoring air quality. EPA was a conference partner.
EPA presentations included:
- The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map Pilot Project – April 1, 2021
- Fenceline and Community Sensor Applications and Comparisons - May 18, 2021
2021 National Tribal Forum: Helping Tribes interpret the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and Use Air Sensors During Smoke Episodes - May 2021
This video, part of the 2021 National Tribal Forum, discussed the challenges in monitoring in tribal areas, how the PurpleAir sensors are increasingly being used for air monitoring, the integration of sensor data on the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map, and how PurpleAir sensors can facilitate community air monitoring indoors and outdoors. They highlight the Hoopa Valley Tribal PurpleAir Monitoring Network as an example.
Air Sensor Performance Testing Protocols, Metrics, and Target Values for PM2.5 and Ozone - March 24, 2021
This webinar highlights two reports developed by EPA that outline recommended performance testing protocols, metrics, and target values for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) air sensors. This work aims to provide consistent testing protocols and target values to uniformly evaluate and compare different air sensor technologies to better understand their performance in real-world conditions.
Communicating Air Quality During Fires - The Science Behind the AirNow Sensor Data Pilot – January 28, 2021
This recording provides an overview of the AirNow Sensor Data Pilot, orients users to the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and the various sources of information available and discusses the development of the U.S.-wide correction equation for PurpleAir PM2.5 sensor data and its appropriateness for correcting PM2.5 measurements during smoke events.
2020
Air Sensors International Conference Presentations – October 2020
The Air Sensors International Conference (ASIC), hosted by the University of California-Davis Air Quality Research Center, brought together different stakeholders from academia, government, communities, and commercial entities in a virtual setting to promote and advance air pollution sensors, improve the data quality from these sensors, expand the pollutants measured, and foster community involvement in monitoring air quality. EPA was a conference partner.
Visit the conference website to access all presentations and recordings
EPA presentations included:
- Long-Term Performance of Five Air Sensor Models Across Seven U.S. Sites – October 1, 2020
- Evaluation of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors for Measuring Wildfire Smoke – October 15, 2020
- Using a Particle Sensor Network to Characterize Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality of Buildings in Areas Prone to Wildfires – October 22, 2020
- Overview of the U.S. EPA Work on Developing Performance Testing Protocols and Targets for Ozone and PM2.5 Air Sensors – October 29, 2020
- A Brief Overview of EPA Communication & Interpretation Sensor Activities – October 29, 2020
Development & Performance Validation of U.S.-Wide Correction Equation for PurpleAir Sensor Data – September 16, 2020
This webinar, hosted by EPA, summarized the development and validation of the U.S.-Wide Correction Equation for PM2.5 data from PurpleAir sensors. This correction is being applied to PurpleAir sensors before the company’s data are displayed as part of the pilot low-cost sensor data layer on the AirNow smoke and fire map. This webinar also describes some known or suspected issues with the performance of the correction equation and addresses some of the common questions from consumers about using crowdsourced air sensor data.
3rd International Smoke Symposium – April 20-24, 2020
The 3rd International Smoke Symposium, hosted in a virtual setting by the International Association of Wildland Fire, discussed research, management, and policy related to wildfires. The target audience included governmental air quality regulators. land managers and fire practitioners, research and extension communities, public health professionals, air quality and fire weather forecasting communities, and climate change researchers. The conference was conducted in partnership with National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Smoke Committee, University of California-Davis (UC Davis) Air Quality Research Center, UC Davis Office of Research, and the UC Davis School of Medicine.
- Symposium information
- EPA poster presentation recording: Using a Particle Sensor Network to Characterize Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality of Buildings in Areas Prone to Wildfires – April 23, 2020
2019 - older
Emerging Sensor Technologies 2014-2018 Progress Report – April 30, 2018
EPA and partners have been involved in emerging air quality sensor research. This webinar provided an overview of general findings across a range of air sensor activities conducted by EPA researchers from 2014 to 2018. Topics include sensor evaluations, data analytics, ammonia detection, participatory science, emission source detection, and more.