Six Questions to Consider Before
Purchasing Air Sensor Teoiioology

What are your goals?

•	Environmental education

•	General air quality monitoring

•	Pollutant emissions detection +

•	Understanding personal
exposure

What measurements are needed

to meet my goals.

•	Air pollutant type(s)

(e.g., particulate matter, ozone)

•	Meteorology (e.g., temperature,humidity)

•	Other (e.g., GPS location,sound)

GLO

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What design features and
performance do 1 need?

•	Portability and size ^

•	Power source

(e.g., battery, solar) * —»

•	Outdoor or indoor use 11—^—r

•	Data display, storage, and transmission

•	Maintenance needs

•	Measurement accuracy for planned use

How can I check the performance
of my sensor device?

•	Seek information from
manufacturer on appropriate
data quality checks

•	Compare results against a nearby
regulatory monitor



Check data output for errors (e.g., spikes)
Check weather and other conditions that
may impact performance

What are some factors that can
influence the cost of buying and
operating a sensor?

•	Loan, lease,or purchase of a

sensor device

•	Maintenance and/or replacement cost
Data transmission and storage on server

•	Data ownership

•	Data analysis and visualization tools

$



What should I look for in a user
manual?

•	Description of measurements
collected by a device

•	General installation, operating, and
maintenance instructions

•	Instructions on storing and obtaining data

•	Description of the capabilities of a sensor
device (e.g., specifications)

•	Customer service support

Learn more about how to select
and use an air sensor technology:

Air Sensor Toolbox —

https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox

Air Sensor Guidebook —

https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox
how-use-air-sensors-air-sensor-guidebook

AIR

SENSOR

TOOLBOX

A EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

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