Deliberating Performance Targets: Follow-on workshop discussing PM10, NO2, CO, and SO2 air sensor targets

R M Duvall; G S W Hagler; A L Clements; K Benedict; K Barkjohn; V Kilaru; T Hanley; N Watkins; A Kaufman; A Kamal; S Reece; P Fransioli; M Gerboles; G Gillerman; R Habre; M Hannigan; Z Ning; V Papapostolou; R Pope; P J E Quintana; J Lam Snyder

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118099

Deliberating Performance Targets: Follow-on workshop discussing PM₁₀, NO₂, CO, and SO₂ air sensor targets

Atmos Environ (1994). 2021:246:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118099. doi: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.118099.

Authors

R M Duvall¹, G S W Hagler¹, A L Clements¹, K Benedict², K Barkjohn³, V Kilaru¹, T Hanley², N Watkins², A Kaufman², A Kamal⁴, S Reece⁵, P Fransioli⁶, M Gerboles⁷, G Gillerman⁸, R Habre⁹, M Hannigan¹⁰, Z Ning¹¹, V Papapostolou¹², R Pope¹³, P J E Quintana¹⁴, J Lam Snyder¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
² U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
³ Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
⁴ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
⁵ Former Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
⁶ Clark County Department of Air Quality, Las Vegas, NV, USA.
⁷ European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy.
⁸ National Institute of Standards and Technology, Standards Coordination Office, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
⁹ University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
¹⁰ University of Colorado-Boulder, Mechanical Engineering Department, Boulder, CO, USA.
¹¹ Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
¹² South Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar, CA, USA.
¹³ Maricopa County Air Quality Department, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
¹⁴ San Diego State University, School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA.
¹⁵ Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Abstract

The use of air sensor technology is increasing worldwide for a variety of applications, however, with significant variability in data quality. The United States Environmental Protection Agency held a workshop in July 2019 to deliberate possible performance targets for air sensors measuring particles with aerodynamic diameters of 10 μm or less (PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). These performance targets were discussed from the perspective of non-regulatory applications and with the sensors operating primarily in a stationary mode in outdoor environments. Attendees included representatives from multiple levels of government organizations, sensor developers, environmental nonprofits, international organizations, and academia. The workshop addressed the current lack of sensor technology requirements, discussed fit-for-purpose data quality needs, and debated transparency issues. This paper highlights the purpose and key outcomes of the workshop. While more information on performance and applications of sensors is available than in past years, the performance metrics, or parameters used to describe data quality, vary among the studies reports and there is a need for more clear and consistent approaches for evaluating sensor performance. Organizations worldwide are increasingly considering, or are in the process of developing, sensor performance targets and testing protocols. Workshop participants suggested that these new guidelines are highly desirable, would help improve data quality, and would give users more confidence in their data. Given the wide variety of uses for sensors and user backgrounds, as well as varied sensor design features (e.g., communication approaches, data tools, processing/adjustment algorithms and calibration procedures), the need for transparency was a key workshop theme. Suggestions for increasing transparency included documenting and sharing testing and performance data, detailing best practices, and sharing data processing and correction approaches.

Keywords: Air sensors; CO; NO2; PM10; Performance targets; SO2.

Abstract

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