Empower your city’s decision-makers with air quality insights Weather & Environment Air quality is an essential factor in creating smarter, healthier communities. This is due in part to the urgency of air quality problems, but it’s also because air quality measurement is such a good place to start when leaders and citizens want to create change. Air quality influences so many community health metrics and so many people are vulnerable to pollution and harmful particulates. The benefits of compact air quality sensors Many cities already have reference-grade air quality measurement stations, but these are typically organized in sparse networks that don’t cover all the desired areas or account for small-scale variations. Often, they provide good accuracy but are expensive to procure and manage. Fortunately, the technology for small, cost-effective air quality sensors has developed in the last several years. Today, the sensors provide significant benefits while supplementing the existing air quality monitoring networks. These compact sensors can easily be deployed on lampposts, streetlights, buildings, or wherever else they are needed, to complement reference-grade stations. Or sensor-based air quality monitoring networks can be used as standalone solutions in smaller cities. Weather observations and conditions affect where sensors should be located, as well as provide valuable data that can be analyzed when modeling air quality development. Because air quality is always connected to the weather, air quality measurements are much more valuable if they are accompanied by real-time data about: Wind direction and speed, which are important for deciding on network locations and creating alerts or interventions during times of heavy pollution. Precipitation can cause pollutants from the atmosphere to be washed downward and can sometimes reduce street and road dust emissions. Temperature impacts the behavior of air and the particulates or pollution it carries. It can be used to make infrastructure decisions, map patterns and variations throughout an urban landscape, and even understand the movements and needs of people throughout a community. Atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) behavior defines the air volume into which pollutants are diluted. Combining ABL and air quality observations improves situational awareness and the quality of forecasts and advisories. (Boundary layer height can be continuously monitored with lidar and integrated with the solutions detailed in this guide.) The complete picture: Air quality + weather Having access to real-time insights can help mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution to make city air more breathable and enable proactive environmental stewardship. Vaisala’s new AQT530 best-in-class air quality transmitter is a sensor that delivers air quality data and insights, resulting in empowered governments, businesses, and citizens. It provides a clear picture of air quality conditions and enhances situational awareness to improve lives in communities across the world. AQT530 leverages an innovative weather and environmental intelligence platform to produce accurate and reliable measurements of top-priority pollutant gases and particulates, including: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Nitrogen monoxide (NO) Ozone (O3) Carbon monoxide (CO) PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter When paired together, the Air Quality Transmitter AQT530, Vaisala Beam Weather Station, and Weather Transmitter WXT536 provide users with accurate and reliable measurements of six crucial weather parameters and air quality. In addition to the top-priority pollutant gasses and particulates mentioned above, this plug-and-play station also offers measurements for: Air pressure Temperature Humidity Rainfall Wind speed Wind direction And combine AQT530 with Wx Beacon data management and visualization service for measurement data so that stakeholders also gain access to additional air quality parameters, plus connectivity to transfer, manage, and visualize all of the data. AQT530: Putting cities in control of air quality The benefits of enhanced air quality measurement go beyond health and safety. With the right access to the right information, people gain a deeper connection to their environment and new ways of thinking about business and community. They become more aware, active, and committed. Learn more about AQT530 and the insights you’re able to harness for your community in our upcoming webinar.
