Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

PM (Particulate Matter) Survey

• Organization Name

  West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project
• Project Website

  http://www.woeip.org/community-based-participatory-research/
• Organization Website

  http://www.woeip.org/
• Partners

  N / A
• Contact Name

  Cassandra Martin
• Contact Email

  N / A
• Contact Phone

  (510)257-5640
• Other Contact Information

  Contact page: http://www.woeip.org/contact/

• Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

  The objective of this study is to evaluate the air quality of residential areas in West Oakland. The study will lead to the design of lower-cost sensors and instruments. This initiative provides an opportunity to:

  1. engage citizens in air quality monitoring and management practices
  2. “fill in the gaps” in state monitoring networks, and
  3. use new data sources for scientific research.
• Participant Activities

  Survey teams use the Dusttrak 8530 to measure the PM levels in the air along specific paths close to homes and schools. The location of the survey team is tracked and recorded by the AMOD Global Positioning System unit.

• Data Entry

  • Other
• Other Participant Activities

  Participants can join other community organizing, advocacy and story telling activities.

• System Studied

  • Air Quality
• Geographic Scope

  Local
• Region

  Alameda
• Location

  West Oakland Neighborhoods
• Location - Map

  1747 14th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
• Time Commitment

  • Specific dates (see Other Information below)
• Volunteer Qualifications

  None.

• Volunteer Training

  Yes. Information about air quality and the health effects of pollution. You will also learn how to use professional air monitoring equipment and GPS devices.

• Cost to Participant

  N / A
• How will the findings be used?

  The PM levels and the location information are shown on a google-style map on the world-wide-web. Ultimately, results of this study may help support near-road PM regulatory programs and determine methods to distribute “citizen science” data.

• Other Information

  This project partners with Common Sense, participatory sensing project, to develop easily deployed air quality monitoring devices. "Unlike high stationary sensors, Portable PM loggers record what residents breathe at ground level, near places (residential areas, schools, and parks) frequently traveled by the elderly and children."
  Future work: We are seeking funding to bring our air quality data gathering process indoors. We  want to engage our local schools in assessing air pollution inside school buildings and using that information to help reduce asthma triggers in the classroom. Our goal is to  empower parents through the schools to address indoor air quality in the home by helping families understand the structural and behavioral factors that affect indoor air quality. 

• Photo

  
• last update:

  N / A