Hyperlocal sensors

The mapping of hyperlocal air pollution is key to driving clean air initiatives

Air pollution is harmful to human health, and its impacts — increased hospital visits, missed work and school days, boxes of rescue inhalers at schools — are frequent reminders that its risks are real and personal. Moreover, these risks are highest for some of the most vulnerable populations: children, the elderly, and people with already compromised respiratory systems. Because air pollution is hard to see, it’s often hard for local leaders to pinpoint sources and trends to develop effective solutions. New sensor technology is changing that dynamic, allowing us to measure and map pollution concentrations block by block and identify patterns and hotspots like never before. 

Because air pollution is hard to see, it’s often hard for local leaders to pinpoint sources and  trends to develop effective solutions. New sensor technology is changing that dynamic, allowing us to measure and map pollution concentrations block by block and identify patterns and hotspots like never before.

Compared to conventional air pollution management, which commonly relies on a few sparsely located monitors and modeling, hyperlocal monitoring allows for a more holistic picture of air quality at a high spatial resolution (with different concentrations every 30 meters, for example) and frequency (different concentrations every minute or few minutes, rather than on an hourly or daily basis).

Hyperlocal monitoring can fill a gap in places where modeled data is not available. Additionally, measuring on-the-ground pollution allows for a better understanding of the true exposure and health impacts of air pollution, which can then result in targeted solutions.