- Center for Study of Science, Technology & Policy, Bengalaru, India (subu@cstep.in)
Low-cost air quality sensor systems (LCS) represent a transformative tool in modern air quality management strategies, offering unprecedented opportunities to complement traditional monitoring approaches. The integration of LCS data with established monitoring systems, including satellite observations and reference-grade instrumentation, has the potential to significantly enhance the reliability and applicability of air quality data. In regions lacking comprehensive monitoring networks, LCS can bridge critical gaps by identifying local factors affecting air quality, thus guiding targeted monitoring efforts and informing policy development.
A key advantage of LCS lies in their capacity to extend the spatial and temporal coverage of existing monitoring networks. By deploying LCS in underserved areas, policymakers can gain actionable insights into localized pollution patterns, which are essential for designing effective mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the use of LCS promotes community engagement by empowering local stakeholders to participate in air quality monitoring and advocacy.
Despite their potential, the application of LCS data must account for inherent limitations in accuracy and precision. Co-locating LCS with reference-grade monitors is a critical step to quantify measurement uncertainties and ensure data quality. This approach facilitates the calibration of LCS, enabling their use in advanced applications such as air quality forecasting, source impact analysis, and public health assessments.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has played a pivotal role in coordinating global efforts to standardize and optimize the deployment of LCS technologies. Through the development of guidelines, best practices, and frameworks for integration, the WMO has provided critical support for national and regional initiatives aimed at improving air quality management. Recent developments, overviewed in the WMO’s 2024 report (WMO, 2024), highlight the organization’s leadership in promoting the use of LCS as integral components of comprehensive air quality management frameworks. This report underscores the importance of integrating LCS with traditional and emerging data sources, offering practical guidance on network design, calibration protocols, performance evaluation, and data communication. These insights align with previous WMO publications that establish foundational principles for LCS operation and deployment.
The continued refinement of LCS technologies, alongside efforts to standardize their use within monitoring networks—coordinated by institutions such as the WMO—will be pivotal in unlocking their full potential and fostering a more equitable approach to air quality management worldwide.
The present contribution will overview the main outcomes of the WMO’s 2024 report on the use of LCS for different air quality applications from supporting air quality management strategies to promoting social awareness of air pollution issues.
How to cite: Subramanian, R. S., Basart, S., Malings, C., Amegah, K., Diez, S., Rosales, C., and Zimmerman, N.: Integrating Low-cost Sensor Systems and Networks to Enhance Air Quality Applications, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-21629, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-21629, 2025.