Low Cost AQ Sensor Systems Symposium 2024
Last week, Deputy CEO, James Berry attended the Low Cost AQ Sensor Systems Symposium 2024 and he discusses the event below.
The event jointly hosted by Defra, National Centre for Atmospheric Science and Institute for Air Quality Management (IAQM), brought together users of low cost ambient AQ sensor systems from a variety of disciplines and was a mixture of presentations, posters and interactive sessions. The day provided an opportunity to see some of the wider applications of sensors (data loggers), understand best practice and look for possible opportunities in this field.
This was the second symposium with the first back in 2019 which led to the creation of PAS 4023:2023 Selection, deployment and quality control of low-cost air quality sensor systems in outdoor ambient air – Code of practice. The focus of that document much like the day was around consideration for outdoor ambient air, although it seemed there was a clear appetite in the room to see the industry get together to produce similar guidance for indoor monitoring.
The key takeaway
What is clear is that this air quality monitoring is now readily available at very little cost with a huge desire to embrace the technology to improve health, well being and the environment. With the low cost, this equipment is no longer restricted to use by the specialist and do we need to embrace “citizen science” to help regulate the environment? Should it be part of our arsenal that intervention could be simply leaving?
The PCA developed its own logger system, Maple Diagnostics. Further information on the product and its automated reporting software is available on the Maple website or contact Jo Orlebar for further information.