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 el O 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 ------- |