Evaluating Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors to Inform Air Quality Monitoring

To determine the effectiveness of two brands of low-cost sensors monitoring the air quality effects from ground operations at a coal-fired power plant, Sonoma Technology deployed a network of the sensors along with reference and meteorological instruments.
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The goal of the ten-month study was to measure the sensors’ success at detecting lofted coal dust, as accurate data could be used to improve operational decision-making and thus mitigate air quality impacts. The sensors had mixed performance in the field, likely due to very low temperatures in the winter and high humidity throughout the year.