scholarly journals Robust statistical calibration and characterization of portable low-cost air quality monitoring sensors to quantify real-time O<sub>3</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in diverse environments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravi Sahu ◽  
Ayush Nagal ◽  
Kuldeep Kumar Dixit ◽  
Harshavardhan Unnibhavi ◽  
Srikanth Mantravadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Metric Learning ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Local Calibration ◽  
Calibration Models ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Calibration Algorithm

Abstract. Rising awareness of the health risks posed by elevated levels of ground-level O3 and NO2 have led to an increased demand for affordable and dense spatio-temporal air quality monitoring networks. Low-cost sensors used as a part of Internet of Things (IoT) platforms offer an attractive solution with greater mobility and lower maintenance costs, and can supplement compliance regulatory monitoring stations. These commodity low-cost sensors have reasonably high accuracy but require in-field calibration to improve precision. In this paper, we report the results of a deployment and calibration study on a network of seven air quality monitoring devices built using the Alphasense O3 (OX-B431) and NO2 (NO2-B43F) electrochemical gas sensors. The sensors were deployed at sites situated within two mega-cities with diverse geographical, meteorological and air quality parameters – Faridabad (Delhi National Capital Region) and Mumbai, India. The deployment was done in two phases over a period of three months. A unique feature of our deployment is a swap-out experiment wherein four of these sensors were relocated to different sites in the two deployment phases. Such a diverse deployment with sensors switching places gives us a unique opportunity to ablate the effect of seasonal, as well as geographical variations on calibration performance. We perform an extensive study of more than a dozen parametric as well as non-parametric calibration algorithms and find local calibration methods to offer the best performance. We propose a novel local calibration algorithm based on metric-learning that offers, across deployment sites and phases, an average R2 coefficient of 0.873 with respect to reference values for O3 calibration and 0.886 for NO2 calibration. This represents an upto 9 % increase over R2 values offered by classical local calibration methods. In particular, our proposed model far outperforms the default calibration models offered by the gas sensor manufacturer. We also offer a critical analysis of the effect of various data preparation and model design choices on calibration performance. The key recommendations emerging out of this study include (1) incorporating ambient relative humidity and temperature as free parameters (or features) into all calibration models, (2) assessing the relative importance of various features with respect to the calibration task at hand, by using an appropriate feature weighing or metric learning technique, (3) the use of local (or even hyper-local) calibration techniques such as k-NN that seem to offer the best performance in high variability conditions such as those encountered in field deployments, (4) performing temporal smoothing over raw time series data, say by averaging sensor signals over small windows, but being careful to not do so too aggressively, and (5) making all efforts at ensuring that data with enough diversity is demonstrated to the calibration algorithm while training to ensure good generalization. These results offer insights into the strengths and limitations of these sensors, and offer an encouraging opportunity at using them to supplement and densify compliance regulatory monitoring networks.

scholarly journals Robust statistical calibration and characterization of portable low-cost air quality monitoring sensors to quantify real-time O<sub>3</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations in diverse environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Ravi Sahu ◽  
Ayush Nagal ◽  
Kuldeep Kumar Dixit ◽  
Harshavardhan Unnibhavi ◽  
Srikanth Mantravadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Metric Learning ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Calibration Algorithm ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Non Parametric

Abstract. Low-cost sensors offer an attractive solution to the challenge of establishing affordable and dense spatio-temporal air quality monitoring networks with greater mobility and lower maintenance costs. These low-cost sensors offer reasonably consistent measurements but require in-field calibration to improve agreement with regulatory instruments. In this paper, we report the results of a deployment and calibration study on a network of six air quality monitoring devices built using the Alphasense O3 (OX-B431) and NO2 (NO2-B43F) electrochemical gas sensors. The sensors were deployed in two phases over a period of 3 months at sites situated within two megacities with diverse geographical, meteorological and air quality parameters. A unique feature of our deployment is a swap-out experiment wherein three of these sensors were relocated to different sites in the two phases. This gives us a unique opportunity to study the effect of seasonal, as well as geographical, variations on calibration performance. We report an extensive study of more than a dozen parametric and non-parametric calibration algorithms. We propose a novel local non-parametric calibration algorithm based on metric learning that offers, across deployment sites and phases, an R2 coefficient of up to 0.923 with respect to reference values for O3 calibration and up to 0.819 for NO2 calibration. This represents a 4–20 percentage point increase in terms of R2 values offered by classical non-parametric methods. We also offer a critical analysis of the effect of various data preparation and model design choices on calibration performance. The key recommendations emerging out of this study include (1) incorporating ambient relative humidity and temperature into calibration models; (2) assessing the relative importance of various features with respect to the calibration task at hand, by using an appropriate feature-weighing or metric-learning technique; (3) using local calibration techniques such as k nearest neighbors (KNN); (4) performing temporal smoothing over raw time series data but being careful not to do so too aggressively; and (5) making all efforts to ensure that data with enough diversity are demonstrated in the calibration algorithm while training to ensure good generalization. These results offer insights into the strengths and limitations of these sensors and offer an encouraging opportunity to use them to supplement and densify compliance regulatory monitoring networks.

scholarly journals Design of an ozone and nitrogen dioxide sensor unit and its long-term operation within a sensor network in the city of Zurich

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mueller ◽  
Jonas Meyer ◽  
Christoph Hueglin
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Sensor Network ◽  
Data Transfer ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Procedure ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Diffusion Tubes

Abstract. This study focuses on the investigation and quantification of low-cost sensor performance in application fields such as the extension of traditional air quality monitoring networks or the replacement of diffusion tubes. For this, sensor units consisting of two boxes featuring NO2 and O3 low-cost sensors and wireless data transfer were engineered. The sensor units were initially operated at air quality monitoring sites for three months for performance analysis and initial calibration. Afterwards, they were relocated and operated within a sensor network consisting of six locations for more than one year. Our analyses show that the employed O3 and NO2 sensors can be accurate to 2–5 and 5–7 ppb, respectively, during the first three months of operation. This accuracy, however, could not be maintained during their operation within the sensor network related to changes in sensor behaviour. Hence, the low-cost sensors in our configuration do not reach the accuracy level of NO2 diffusion tubes. Tests in the laboratory revealed that changes in relative humidity can impact the signal of the employed NO2 sensors similarly as changes in ambient NO2 concentration. All the employed low-cost sensors need to be individually calibrated. Best performance of NO2 sensors is achieved when the calibration models include also time dependent parameters accounting for changes in sensor response over time. Accordingly, an effective procedure for continuous data control and correction is essential for obtaining meaningful data. It is demonstrated that linking the measurements from low-cost sensors to the high quality measurements from routine air quality monitoring stations is an effective procedure for both tasks provided that time periods can be identified when pollutant concentrations can be accurately predicted at sensor locations.

scholarly journals Design of an ozone and nitrogen dioxide sensor unit and its long-term operation within a sensor network in the city of Zurich

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3783-3799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Mueller ◽  
Jonas Meyer ◽  
Christoph Hueglin
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Sensor Network ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Effective Procedure ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Diffusion Tubes ◽  
Over Time

Abstract. This study focuses on the investigation and quantification of low-cost sensor performance in application fields such as the extension of traditional air quality monitoring networks or the replacement of diffusion tubes. For this, sensor units consisting of two boxes featuring NO2 and O3 low-cost sensors and wireless data transfer were engineered. The sensor units were initially operated at air quality monitoring sites for 3 months for performance analysis and initial calibration. Afterwards, they were relocated and operated within a sensor network consisting of six locations for more than 1 year. Our analyses show that the employed O3 and NO2 sensors can be accurate to 2–5 and 5–7 ppb, respectively, during the first 3 months of operation. This accuracy, however, could not be maintained during their operation within the sensor network related to changes in sensor behaviour. For most of the O3 sensors a decrease in sensitivity was encountered over time, clearly impacting the data quality. The NO2 low-cost sensors in our configuration exhibited better performance but did not reach the accuracy level of NO2 diffusion tubes (∼ 2 ppb for uncorrected 14-day average concentrations). Tests in the laboratory revealed that changes in relative humidity can impact the signal of the employed NO2 sensors similarly to changes in ambient NO2 concentration. All the employed low-cost sensors need to be individually calibrated. Best performance of NO2 sensors is achieved when the calibration models also include time-dependent parameters accounting for changes in sensor response over time. Accordingly, an effective procedure for continuous data control and correction is essential for obtaining meaningful data. It is demonstrated that linking the measurements from low-cost sensors to the high-quality measurements from routine air quality monitoring stations is an effective procedure for both tasks provided that time periods can be identified when pollutant concentrations can be accurately predicted at sensor locations.

MOPGA/Improving Air Quality in West Africa: Low-cost sensors as a solution to improve the understanding of spatial and temporal variability in urban air pollution

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Bahino ◽  
Michael Giordano ◽  
Véronique Yoboué ◽  
Arsène Ochou ◽  
Corinne Galy-Lacaux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
West African ◽  
Passive Samplers ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Calibration Models

&lt;p&gt;This study was carried out within the framework of the Improving Air Quality in West Africa&lt;strong&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/strong&gt;(IAQWA) project funded by the Make Our Planet Great Again (MOPGA) program. In recent years, West African countries have experienced an economic upturn driven by GDP growth of nearly 3.7% in 2019 (AfDB, 2020). This economic boom is mainly felt in the cities where it promotes the construction of highway infrastructure, real estate development, and industry. All these activities are sources of air pollution. Unfortunately, there is almost no air quality monitoring in these cities partly due to the high cost of monitoring instruments. Low-cost air quality monitoring instruments can help improve the spatial and temporal resolution of measurements at relatively lower cost. However, the installation of these instruments in West African environments characterized by high relative humidity requires their calibration through collocation with reference instruments. The IAQWA project aims to improve our understanding of air pollutants such as fine particulate matter mass (PM&lt;sub&gt;2.5&lt;/sub&gt;), ozone (O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;), and carbon monoxide (CO) in Abidjan and Accra, two major West African capitals, through the deployment of Real-time Affordable Multi-Pollutant (RAMP) monitors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Since February 2020, five RAMPs have been installed and are operating continuously at various sites&amp;#160;in Abidjan and Lamto in Cote d'Ivoire, and four RAMPs have been operating in Accra, Ghana. Some of the RAMPs have been collocated with PM and/or NOx reference instruments. At other sites the RAMPs have been collocated with INDAAF passive samplers and passive aerosol collectors. These collocations have allowed for the development of calibration models for these low-cost sensors. The performance of these calibration models is presented here along with the diurnal and seasonal variations of air pollution at the different sites in Abidjan and Accra. These results will eventually be used to improve our understanding of the drivers of air pollution in these major West African cities, which is essential to choosing sustainable development pathways in the future.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Development and Implementation of a Platform for Public Information on Air Quality, Sensor Measurements, and Citizen Science

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesseling ◽  
Ruiter ◽  
Blokhuis ◽  
Drukker ◽  
Weijers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Case Examples ◽  
Air Quality Measurements ◽  
Calibration Methods

The use of low-cost sensors for air quality measurements is expanding rapidly, with an associated rise in the number of citizens measuring air quality themselves. This has major implications for traditional air quality monitoring as performed by Environmental Protection Agencies. Here we reflect on the experiences of the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) with the use of low-cost sensors, particularly NO2 and PM10/PM2.5-sensors, and related citizen science, over the last few years. Specifically, we discuss the Dutch Innovation Program for Environmental Monitoring, which comprises the development of a knowledge portal and sensor data portal, new calibration approaches for sensors, and modelling and assimilation techniques for incorporating these uncertain sensor data into air pollution models. Finally, we highlight some of the challenges that come with the use of low-cost sensors for air quality monitoring, and give some specific use-case examples. Our results show that low-cost sensors can be a valuable addition to traditional air quality monitoring, but so far, their use in official monitoring has been limited. More research is needed to establish robust calibration methods while ongoing work is also aimed at a better understanding of the public’s needs for air quality information to optimize the use of low-cost sensors.

scholarly journals Forecasting Model Validation of Particulate Air Pollution by Low Cost Sensors Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicoletta Lotrecchiano ◽  
Filomena Gioiella ◽  
Aristide Giuliano ◽  
Daniele Sofia
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Emission Control ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Forecasting Model ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Networks ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Monitoring Stations

Environmental pollution in urban areas may be mainly attributed to the rapid industrialization and increased growth of vehicular traffic. As a consequence of air quality deterioration, the health and welfare of human beings are compromised. Air quality monitoring networks usually are used not only to assess the pollutant trend but also in the effective set-up of preventive measures of atmospheric pollution. In this context, monitoring can be a valid action to evaluate different emission control scenarios; however, installing a high space-time resolution monitoring network is still expensive. Merge of observations data from low-cost air quality monitoring networks with forecasting models can contribute to improving significantly emission control scenarios. In this work, a validation algorithm of the forecasting model for the concentration of small particulates (PM10 and PM2.5) is proposed. Results showed a satisfactory agreement between the PM concentration forecast values and the measured data from 3 air quality monitoring stations. Final average RMSE values for all monitoring stations are equal to about 4.5 µg/m3.

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