“These satellite measurements are useful for assessing whole cities and for cities that lack ground observations,” said co-author John Lin, “but the TRAX-based sensors allow for more granularity in emissions throughout the city and can complement the space-based observations.”Īs cities work to reduce environmental inequalities, mobile air monitoring can also help determine if some urban areas’ air is improving faster than others, the researchers said. Nasa satellites can also be used to make emission estimates for cities around the world, a technique the team is pursuing in tandem. The project continued by placing the sensors on the roof of the train so they aren’t affected by people waiting on the train platforms. “I noticed that there was a small CO2 bump every time the 'TRAX' train (pictured) stopped at a train station,” Mitchell said. “This confused me initially, but I realised that the inlet tubes sticking out of the driver window were actually picking up human respiration from people standing at the train platform waiting to board the train!” The team first tested the system by placing air inlet tubes out the window of an unoccupied driver’s cab. “Cost-effective atmospheric monitoring will help policymakers understand what policies lead to reductions in pollutant levels, where there needs to be more focus and if there are environmental inequalities emerging as some areas reduce their emissions faster than other areas.” “Pollutant levels in the atmosphere are going to be rapidly changing in the coming decade as clean energy technologies are deployed,” said Logan Mitchell, co-author of the study. They said that about 30 stationary sensors would be needed to cover the same area that the train sensors are capable of covering. To lower this expense, they trialled attaching mobile sensors to light rail trains which form part of the public transport network in the Salt Lake Valley area. Research-grade air quality sensors typically cost around $40,000 (approximately £30,400) each, according to researchers at the University of Utah.
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