Professional Air Quality Monitoring for Communities

The monitor measures PM, CO₂, TVOCs, NO₂, O₃, Temperature and Humidity.

The PM sensor (Plantower PMS5003T) measures particulate matter, especially smaller particles like PM_2.5 have the potential to cause significant harm to our well-being. These tiny particles are released into the air through various sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, burning of fossil fuels or wildfires. When inhaled, these small particles can penetrate deep into our respiratory system, leading to a range of health issues. Long-term exposure to PM_2.5 has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, and even premature death.

The ENS210 takes measurements inside the PMS5003T module to increase PM accuracy. Due to the heat inside the module, these readings may deviate from ambient temperature and humidity levels.

The CO₂ sensor (SenseAir S8) can give you valuable information about local emission sources. These elevated CO₂ levels can then also indicate other harmful gases that are often emitted with CO₂ like SO₂, NO and NO₂. These emissions are not always visible with only measuring PM due to for example good filters in power plants or factories. Another use case is to detect leakage from underground carbon storage facilities. Please note that the sensor is not accurate enough to measure the exact atmospheric CO₂ increases (currently around 430ppm), however our tests show a very high agreement with reference instruments.

The monitor includes the Sensirion SGP41 TVOCs sensor, which shows relative spikes in total volatile organic components based on the Sensirion VOC Index. Even though VOCs are typically associated with indoor sources, VOCs can also occur outdoors for example emitted from chemical factories, petrol stations, natural gas leakages, burning of garbage etc. Please note that VOCs are also triggered by harmless substances like ethanol or sunscreen. So an elevated value does not necessarily mean a harmful event.

The Open Air Max version includes additional Alphasense electrochemical sensors for NO₂ and O₃ monitoring. NO₂ (nitrogen dioxide) is a key pollutant primarily from vehicle emissions and industrial sources, with significant health impacts including respiratory irritation and reduced lung function. O₃ (ozone) at ground level is a secondary pollutant formed by chemical reactions between NO_X and volatile organic compounds in sunlight, causing respiratory problems and being particularly harmful to children and elderly populations. These electrochemical sensors provide municipal authorities with critical data for understanding urban air quality patterns and implementing targeted pollution control measures.

Our expert science team, led by Dr. Anika Krause, collaborates closely with leading universities and research institutions worldwide to ensure the highest accuracy standards. We operate over 20 co-location projects globally, with monitors positioned at top research institutions for continuous validation and improvement. Our monitors have been independently tested and validated by organizations including AirLab and Afri-Set, demonstrating their reliability for professional municipal applications.

While most companies invest heavily in marketing, we prioritize research and development, letting our monitors’ proven performance speak for themselves. Our algorithms are completely open-source and transparent, ensuring municipalities have full visibility into data processing methods for regulatory compliance. Universities worldwide choose our monitors for research projects due to their proven accuracy and advanced calibration features. Municipal customers benefit from ongoing scientific validation, comprehensive customer support, and future-proof open-source design backed by continuous research and development. You can read more about our research partnerships on our research page.

Design cost-effective municipal air quality monitoring networks using our strategic mixed-deployment approach. Combine dense coverage of Open Air monitors with strategically placed Open Air Max units to achieve comprehensive citywide monitoring at optimal cost.

Deploy Open Air monitors for broad area coverage in residential zones, schools, and community centers, while positioning Open Air Max monitors with advanced gas sensors at critical locations like traffic intersections, industrial zones, and pollution hotspots. This approach provides higher resolution air quality insights across your entire municipality at a fraction of traditional monitoring costs.

Our infrastructure is designed to scale seamlessly - whether you need 10 monitors for a small community or 500+ for a major metropolitan area. Both monitor types integrate into the same municipal dashboard, providing unified data management and reporting. With our affordable pricing, cities can achieve dense monitoring networks that were previously cost-prohibitive, enabling evidence-based policy decisions and targeted pollution interventions.

UNICEF Lao PDR, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and tech partners, has launched an ambitious initiative to install air quality sensors in 150 schools across the country. This marks a significant step in addressing the severe air pollution challenges in Lao PDR, where air quality monitoring has been historically limited.

AirGradient monitors were specifically chosen for this initiative, due to their accuracy, open-source technology, and affordability. Our sensors provide real-time air quality data, which is integrated into public platforms like OpenAQ, allowing local authorities and school officials to take actions to protect children’s and community health.

‘In the broader East Asia and Pacific region, UNICEF estimates that over 100 children under five lose their lives every day to causes linked to air pollution. By introducing advanced monitoring devices in schools, authorities will have localized data—district by district and even neighborhood by neighborhood — enabling them to protect children’s health.’ - UNICEF

As an impact-driven company, we strive to make meaningful change. By partnering with UNICEF in projects like this, we are able to spread awareness about air pollution and equip people with the tools and knowledge needed to take action against air pollution.

You can see these monitors for yourself on the AirGradient Map and read more about our project with UNICEF here.