A Better Breath


Contributors: Todd Lookingbill, Somyung Kim, Kavon Thompson, Kelly Savorino, and Andre Eanes

As part of a collaborative project with VCU and the Science Museum of Virginia, we are collecting and analyzing data on the spatial and temporal variability in air quality data for the City of Richmond. This work builds on earlier research that mapped the urban heat island effect in the city. That study identified specific at-risk communities that are a focus for this follow-up study of air quality. We are designing a sampling scheme that considers both the temporal and spatial variability of pollution, implementing the monitoring scheme using easy to install laser air quality sensors and hand-held mobile sensors, and mapping observed patterns and trends using spatial analysis tools and methods. The study is following the principles of citizen-science and encourages members of the Richmond community to participate in the data gathering. Pollution and poor air quality have detrimental effects on human and environmental well-being, and they are often tied to complex societal factors. Our analysis is identifying connections between social, demographic, and economic variables and spatial patterns of pollution.

 

 

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Current reading from UR Sensor.

The data collected from all the sensors can be viewed on PurpleAir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentations:

Eanes, A., Lookingbill, T., Saverino, K., Hoffman, J. (2020). Accessible Environmental Justice: Using Citizen Science and Low-cost Equipment to Map Disparities in Urban Air Quality. American Association of Geographers. Denver, CO.

Saverino, K., Eanes, A., Lookingbill, T., Bao, R., Hoffman, J. (2020). Urban Heat Islands of Richmond, VA: A Further Analysis. American Association of Geographers. Denver, CO.