The latest version of the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System includes a new Compare Weather feature. A video covers the capabilities of the feature.
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Technical Approaches for the Sensor Data on the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map
One section of the EPA Air Sensor Toolbox page provides information on the technical approaches for sensor data used on the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Continue ReadingPartner Webinar: Air Sensor Performance Testing Protocols, Metrics, and Target Values for PM2.5 and Ozone
Lower cost air sensor technologies have flooded the marketplace and are being rapidly adopted by state, tribal and local agencies, community scientists, researchers, health professionals, schools, and many others to measure air quality conditions. Common applications for air sensors include understanding air quality trends, supplemental monitoring, monitor siting, identifying hot spots, monitoring in remote locations, personal monitoring, and educational and environmental awareness. While air sensors have become more widespread, it is commonly known that the data quality from these technologies is highly variable. Consistent testing protocols and target values have not been available to uniformly evaluate and compare different air sensor technologies to better understand their performance in real-world conditions. As a result, there is a lack of confidence in data quality and in selecting sensors that best suit an application of interest.
This webinar will highlight two reports developed by EPA’s Office of Research and Development that outline recommended performance testing protocols, metrics, and target values for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) air sensors. The reports apply to the use of PM2.5 and O3 air sensor in non-regulatory supplemental and informational monitoring (NSIM) applications in ambient, outdoor, fixed site environments. The anticipated outcomes of this work are to:
- Provide a consistent approach for evaluating air sensor performance and reporting results;
- Help the user community better understand sensor performance;
- Assist the user community in making informed decisions on choosing sensors that appropriately suit their NSIM application; and
- Encourage innovation and product improvement in the marketplace.
Partner Webinar: New Applications for Terrestrial LiDAR Systems, Monitoring Forests, Fuels and Ecosystem Health
Traditional forestry, ecological, and fuels monitoring methods are costly, error-prone and are rarely analyzed. The application of Terrestrial LIDAR System (TLS) units to monitoring methods can help standardize data collection resulting in improved efficiency, reduced error, and datasets that can easily be analyzed to better inform management decisions. Affordable (sub-$20K) off-the-shelf TLS units can be employed to streamline the data collection process, remove sampling bias, and produce data that can be easily imported into analysis software or decision support framework.
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