## Choosing Sensors Often the first step is to look for a sensor for what you're hoping to measure. In the community posts below, we're collecting info on different kinds of air quality sensors, and their: * cost * sensitivity/accuracy * links and documentation Can you afford a sensor? Can it detect what you're looking for? Where can you learn more about it? ### Posts about choosing and evaluating an air sensor [notes:grid:air-sensor-eval] ### Expected ranges and useful detection limits for pollutants of interest This [table](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/air_sensors_webinar_slides_06-29-16.pdf) from an EPA [Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science webinar](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/air_sensors_webinar_slides_06-29-16.pdf) lists the six criteria air pollutants and a couple additional pollutants, with background levels you might see in the environment in the “Range to Expect” column and useful detection limits for sensors. **** ## Wikis about air sensors [wikis:air-sensors] ## Air sensor projects Public Lab pages and posts tagged `air-sensor-projects` will appear here [nodes:air-sensor-projects] ## Questions [questions:air-sensors] ## Further reading and resources + Environmental consultant Tim Dye’s “[4 questions to ask before buying an air quality sensor](http://tdenviro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/4-questions-when-buying-air-sensors.pdf)” neatly summarizes what to consider when choosing an air sensor. + [Snuffle.org](http://www.snuffle.org/): lots of information on low-cost sensors for various air pollutants. + [Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC)](http://www.aqmd.gov/aq-spec/evaluations): from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, this program tests and evaluates air sensors “in the field, under ambient conditions, and in the laboratory under controlled environmental conditions.” + [Air Sensor Toolbox](https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox): from the US Environmental Protection Agency, this toolbox includes guidance on how to use air sensors and their data, plus information on sensor performance and evaluation results. ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| asampra | "I did this! Don't forget the springs. There are 3 sizes and four springs. So far the device corresponds to a duplicate system. Was reading very ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| 566303 | "We are having some issues with our sensor. It does turn green around clean air, but it only turns blue around unclean air (smoke, etc.), not red or..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| justcare | "Thank you for sharing useful information. " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| AyushC | "Nice article...it is very useful by the way check out this website What To Watch On Netflix " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| liz | "Wow this is awesome! Thank you for these contributions @wu_ming2 " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| wu_ming2 | "I just updated https://repo.or.cz/purpleair-notify.git It's a complete re-write adding Discord !start and !stop commands. Also: messages if Pur..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| alexandretrio1992 | "Hi I think we can detect Ethylene Oxide through air quality sensor, but i am not sure how effective it is, but I am sure some gas detectors will de..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| gccummings25 | "Thank you for your response! You're right in that I need to refine the logistics and parameters. There's no real budget, but because I'm a student ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| nshapiro | "Hi Grace, Glad you are bringing attention to this issue! I was unaware of this until an attorney friend in ATL forwarded this story to me the other..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| natevw | "Nice kit! Main constructive feedback I would offer is that the cable that came ahead of the "Make" livestream event would have been hard to breadb..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| warren | "That's awesome, we'd love to see it in a post on PublicLab.org if you're interested in sharing! " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| wu_ming2 | "If anyone is interested I have completely re-written the micro-service that notifies you while a sensor PM2.5 reading crosses a threshold. With s..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| panicpuri | "I have worked with If-This-Then-That (IFTTT)* systems in the past, and they were simple, yet effective. A system that routinely sends text message ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| liz | "wow great to hear and thanks for the timeline update! We're cheering for you and the team. What system are you thinking about for "prompts and remi..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| panicpuri | "Things are advancing (although a bit slower than I hoped, but I guess that's to be expected). I am still designing a plan for the entire system (in..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| liz | "How are things advancing? Quite well, i hope! " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| eustatic | "Perhaps that's easy for me to say, since i work not for the university, but for a membership based organization where the dues paying members influ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| eustatic | "I think you could find residents who want to participate, and could double as field inspectors for your units, if you got them on board to install ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| panicpuri | "Thank you for your response, @cfastie ! The SensorShip looks like a really interesting device and I will definitely consider using that in a part o..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| joyofsoy | "We shared this on Public Lab's social media. The Facebook post received this reply: Is there already a community of folks interested in collecting ..." | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| liz | "Fascinating! " | Read more » | over 4 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "It looks like you have made a really good start with this project. I agree that a challenge will be to avoid scaring away the neighborhood resident..." | Read more » | almost 5 years ago | |||
| david_uwi | "I am in Trinidad and Tobago. I have located the sensor outside, but sheltered from the weather. I am towards the eastern side of Trinidad and with ..." | Read more » | almost 5 years ago | |||
| liz | "Where is this sensor located? " | Read more » | almost 5 years ago |