Community Air Quality Monitoring Network

Let us know where you want to see Community Air Monitoring Sites and how you can get involved.

About the Community Air Monitoring Network

The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization is working with the University of South Florida, Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, and community organizations to study air quality in communities along the interstates by creating a network of small, affordable air monitors. This Community Air Monitoring Network is made up of community organizations and entities who volunteer to be Community Air Monitoring Sites and host an air monitor (e.g. PurpleAir and Clarity monitors). These air monitors are emerging technologies being installed and researched around the world, as well as in Hillsborough County. To qualify for a grant-funded monitor, site selection considers factors such as nearby land use, traffic volume, and surrounding environmental conditions.

Community Air Monitoring Sites

The Community Air Monitoring Network map displays the established locations currently participating in the network. Sites are categorized by the type of low-cost sensor they host—PurpleAir, Clarity, or both. Additionally, icons on the map indicate the type of place each site represents, such as a park, school, place of worship, or community garden.

What’s the air quality like near you?

Use the real-time, interactive Clarity and PurpleAir maps to explore the air quality near you. Check out the Training Videos below for more information.

Open Clarity Map in a new tab or window.

Open PurpleAir Map in a new tab or window.

About Community Air Monitors

PurpleAir-PA-II monitor

Clarity Node S Monitor

USF Researchers installing PurpleAir Monitors at the Hillsborough County EPC Munro Street Air Monitoring Site.

‘Low-cost’ is the term used in research and practice for an emerging type of innovative monitors that measure air quality. They are smaller and more affordable than national and state regulatory air monitors. With a lower price and smaller size, more monitors can be dispersed across a greater area to capture more air quality measurements. Low-cost monitors are gaining popularity across the country and worldwide among individual residents and local agencies due to their ease of use and opportunities to share crowd-sourced air quality data (e.g. PurpleAir’s Real-Time Air Quality Map). The US Environmental Protection Agency provides additional information on air quality monitors at https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox.

The cost of regulatory monitors is a big reason why there are so few such monitors in the county. For instance, a regulatory monitor for one pollutant can cost about $50,000 per year to operate. Low-cost air monitors are a way to expand air quality measurements and supplement regulatory data. Researchers and monitoring companies are evaluating and developing lower-cost monitors that simultaneously provide reliable air quality data and still make community air measurements affordable and possible. The US Environmental Protection Agency provides additional information on air quality monitors at https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox.

USF researchers selected low-cost air quality monitors based on evaluation and testing of the following factors:

Type and number of pollutants monitored, with a focus on traffic-related air pollution (TRAP)
Quality of collected data
Storage size
Cost of monitor and installation
Usability and accessibility
Ease of transferring and sharing data collection online

Longevity and product support considerations were also considered through a review of prior studies. Please refer to the Guidebook for the Hillsborough Community Air Quality Monitoring Network, under Supporting Documents & Resources for more information on the air monitoring selection methods and process.

Phases

Pilot Study

2021-2023
Test air sensors and analyze data
Engage community
Establish 7 Community Air Monitoring Sites
Establish 2 EPC testing sites
Develop methods to establish network
Awarded EPA ARP grant
Awarded FHWA STIC grant
Completed

Phase 1

Mar-Nov 23
Receive & process grants
Draft Quality Assurance Project Plan
Kick-off meeting
Completed

Phase 2

Dec-May 24
Coalition meeting 04.18.2024
Identify sites
Public survey
Partner with HCPS Green Teams on youth edu.
Develop Guidebook
Collocate air sensors at EPC reference site
Completed

Phase 3

June-Nov 24
Distribute Guidebook
Installation/inspection training
Establish Community Sites
Annual Summit
Completed

Phase 4

Dec-May 25
Review site criteria
Identify additional sites
Establish sites
Site/volunteer training
Ongoing

Phase 5-6

June 25-Mar 26
Review education/outreach materials
Annual Summit
Site/volunteer training
Coalition to finalize recommendations
Establish next steps
Upcoming

Frequently Asked Questions

There are many ways to measure air pollution. Some examples are air pollution modelling, satellite data, and sampling pollutants.

The most accurate and reliable method is regulatory monitoring, an air monitoring system managed by the US EPA. The Hillsborough EPC works with the EPA and operates regulatory monitors in Hillsborough County to determine whether the county overall meets the EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These regulatory monitors are accurate and reliable, provide high-quality data, and have a long lifespan. However, they are expensive and sparsely distributed.

A newer way to measure air pollution is by using small, lower cost air quality monitors. The cost of these monitors is relatively low, they have a small footprint, and some provide public access to the data. As it is an emerging technology it requires further testing and periodical replacement, but they represent a promising option.

We can evaluate air quality by:

The amount of pollution, or the measurements of the pollution concentration levels. Through the Clean Air Act, the US EPA is required to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six principal pollutants, which are harmful to public health and the environment. If measurements from regulatory monitors do not meet these criteria, then it is designated as a non-attainment area.
The Air Quality Index, which ranks the potential health risks associated with ranges of pollution concentrations from “good” to “hazardous.”

Get Involved!

Community organizations, residents, and schools can help us establish the network and monitor air quality in neighborhoods:

Host a low-cost air quality monitor
Volunteer to help install and maintain low-cost air quality monitors
Spread awareness about air quality and the network
Join the Coalition on Community Air Monitoring

illustration of yellow and orange car with exhaust coming out

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Documents

Contact

Wyatt Burttschell
[email protected]

Core Planning Documents

Educational

Community Air Quality Monitoring Network

About the Community Air Monitoring Network

Community Air Monitoring Sites

What’s the air quality like near you?

About Community Air Monitors