Public Lab Wiki documentation

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 from an EPA Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science webinar 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.

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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]

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Further reading and resources

• Environmental consultant Tim Dye’s “4 questions to ask before buying an air quality sensor” neatly summarizes what to consider when choosing an air sensor.
• Snuffle.org: lots of information on low-cost sensors for various air pollutants.
• Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC): 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: 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.

## 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 from an EPA Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science webinar 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

[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” neatly summarizes what to consider when choosing an air sensor.
• Snuffle.org: lots of information on low-cost sensors for various air pollutants.
• Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC): 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: 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.