AirGradient Research

We work with leading researchers in the field of air quality monitoring to ensure accurate monitoring devices and our monitors are used in some of the largest studies of indoor classroom air quality.

Unique Approach

The Open Air outdoor monitor has been designed with a unique approach:

Open Source Hardware and Software. The monitor is fully open source including drawings, 3D files, schematics and firmware code. It is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0. All technical documentation can be accessed here.
Affordable. The monitor has been designed from the ground up to offer an affordable option for countries, regions and NGOs with limited financial possibilities.
Trusted Design. Using well tested and reliable sensor modules as well as ongoing extensive co-location testing, the Open Air monitors strengths and weaknesses are and will be well understood.
Full Transparency. We do not only publish the design of the monitor but will also publish all co-location data, results and compensation algorithms.
Extendable. With its open source design, the monitor can be easily extended with additional sensor modules or connectivity options.
Local Capacity Development. We actively support knowledge transfer to local entities that want to assemble and value-add to the Open Air monitor.
Availability. The monitor is available in our online shop but due to its fully open design, can also be built with components sourced elsewhere.

Scientific Partners

Our open hardware approach is of great interest to the scientific community as it allows easy addition and changes to the hardware and software of the monitors to adjust them to meet exact research objectives. We are thankful to our scientific partners to co-locate our air quality monitors with their scientific instruments and are working together to test the devices in different environments and develop compensation algorithms to closely achieve reference grade data quality.

Current Co-Location Sites

We are currently testing the Open Air outdoor monitor on more than 20 sites around the globe.

Open Air Monitor Co-Location Sites

Co-Location Institution	City, Country	Deployment since
University of Cambridge	Cambridge, UK	February 2023
National Astronomical Research Institute Thailand	Chiang Mai, Thailand	February 2023
North West University / CAP	Vanderbijlpark near Johannesburg, South Africa	March 2023
University of Washington	Guatemala City, Guatemala	April 2023
Northwest Clean Air Agency	Anacortes, WA, United States	May 2023
Northwest Clean Air Agency	Bellingham, WA, United States	May 2023
Imperial College	Marylebone Road, London, UK	May 2023
Imperial College	Honor Oak Park, London, UK	May 2023
Environment and Climate Change Canada	Halifax, Canada	June 2023
Environment and Climate Change Canada	New Brunswick, Canada	June 2023
Environment and Climate Change Canada	Edminton, Canada	June 2023
University of Environment and Sustainable Development Ghana	Physics Department, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana	June 2023
FHI 360	Kathmandu, Nepal	July 2023
Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico	Mexico City, Mexico	August 2023
Arizona State University	West Campus, Phoenix, Arizona, United States	August 2023
University of California Merced / SEEN Team	Merced, California, United States	August 2023
Center for Air Quality, Climate and Health of the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research	Chennai, India	September 2023
Richards Bay Clean Air Association / Communities Against Pollution	Richards Bay, South Africa	September 2023
Columbia University Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory	New York, USA	September 2023
AFRI-SET - Air Quality Sensor Evaluation and Training Centre for West Africa	Accra, Ghana	September 2023
Clean Air Asia	Manila, Philippines	September 2023
Indian Institute of Technology	Delhi, India	September 2023
University of Birmingham	Birmingham, UK	October 2023
Stockholm Environment Institute	Nairobi, Kenya	December 2023
EMPA	Duebendorf, Switzerland	November 2023
Richards Bay Clean Air Association	Richards Bay, South Africa	December 2023
University of Cork	Ireland	Expected
Aire Ciudadano	Bogota, Columbia	Expected
University of Sydney / NSW Department of Environment	Sydney, Australia	Expected
University of Lomé	Lomé, Togo	Expected
Acumar	Argentinia	Expected
Universidad del Desarrollo	Chile	Expected
Colorado Air Pollution Control Division	Denver, Colorado, USA	Expected

Unparalleled Global Data Set

By following a common research approach with all these co-location tests, we are building the first global data set of low-cost monitor testing worldwide. This allows us to understand the exact behaviour of the monitor in various environments in regards to climate and particle compositions. All the data and the compensation algorithms that we will develop will be published and allows organizations and citizen scientists a high level of accuracy.

Co-location with certified instruments

The Open Air monitors are closely co-located with certified reference instruments which are regarded as the golden standard in air quality monitoring. By comparing the measurements from the Open Air monitor with the reference measurements, we can determine the measurement performance of the monitors.

Impact of environmental conditions

The monitors are tested at various geographic locations with diverse climatic conditions and pollution levels. This way, the impact of the environmental conditions on the monitoring performance can be systematically studied.

A large collaborative network

Currently, more then 20 international research organisations, NGOs and action groups are voluntarily supporting this co-location project, for example by providing reference instrumentation and air quality expertise. More partners are likely to join. Thank you!

Open data to increase awareness

All AirGradient data collected during this project will be shared with the public*. This way we want to improve the public access to continuous air pollution data and increase public air quality awareness.
*Most reference data from our partners can already be found online.

Performance criteria

To understand the measurement performance as detailed as possible, we will evaluate the monitor’s reproducibility, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and long-term stability. Furthermore, we will investigate if / how these performance parameters differ at very high and very low concentrations, through meteorological factors (e.g. extreme temperatures) or through interferences with other pollutants. We also plan to examine the impact of the particle composition and size distribution on the Open Air PM2.5 measurements.

Join Us!

If you are a research institution or NGO and interested in joining our co-location program, please contact us.

The more reliable data we can generate in different environmental conditions, the better we understand the strengths and weaknesses of the monitor and can develop accurate compensation algorithms.

Air Quality Webinar 1: Temperature and Relative Humidity correction

Did you know temperature and humidity can throw off your air quality readings? In this AirGradient Education Webinar, Anika will explain why these factors matter and how to correct for them, ensuring your data is as accurate as possible. Whether you’re using air quality monitors for personal health, community projects, or scientific research, this webinar is packed with valuable insights.

The presentations can be found here.

Air Quality Forum

The Air Quality Forum serves as a platform for those engaging in the fight against air pollution, including scientists, non-profit organizations, and governmental institutions. In our forum, they present their current projects, research discoveries and learnt lessons in the field of air quality.

Open to the public, this forum provides a fantastic opportunity to gain insights into the challenges posed by air pollution, benefitting from the diverse perspectives shared during the discussions. The inclusive nature of the forum fosters networking and collaboration among participants, leading to potential synergies and the initiation of new partnerships.

Forum December 2023

Below is the recording from our first forum and the presentations can be found here.

Global Co-Location Status Meeting October 2023

If you want to learn more about our scientific approach, below video from our global co-location status meeting on October 10th gives a very good overview on the current status of the project. In case you have any questions or are interested in participating, please reach out to us!

The data presented at the Global Meeting and the analysis scripts that led to the shown graphs are publicly available here.

Open Hardware Monitor

The AirGradient Monitors have some unique characteristics that sets them apart from other monitors in the market.

Parameters

Open Air will focus on PM2.5 measurements with up to two independent PM sensors. Additionally, it measures temperature and humidity and other sensor modules can be added.

Accurateness

With our partnerships with research institutions in four continents that test the monitor against their reference instruments we can develop very accurate compensation algorithms.

Open Source Hardware

The Open Air monitor is fully open-source and open-hardware licensed under CC BY SA and thus allows researchers and makers to easily make adjustments in the hardware as well the firmware.

Affordability

The open design allows easy access to an accurate low-cost monitor for countries and communities that are not blessed with high budgets -but are often in areas with high air pollution.

AirGradient Monitors Used in the Largest Study of Classroom Air

We are proud to be the monitor provider for the SAMHE study in the UK.

SAMHE (Schools' Air quality Monitoring for Health and Education) is a collaboration between five UK universities (University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of York, University of Surrey and University of Leeds) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

It brings together scientists, students and teachers and establishes a network of AirGradient air quality monitors in schools across the UK, creating an unparalleled dataset which will help researchers better understand schools' indoor air quality.

SAMHE aims to give school communities the power to understand and improve their air quality. A Web App allows students and teachers to interact with the data from their monitor. They are able to see how their air quality changes over the course of time and how it can be influenced. This creates opportunities for students to be scientists and do hands-on experiments with their monitors.

AirGradient’s dedication to research and experience of working with school’s on the ground, made it an ideal partner for the SAMHE project and AirGradient was selected to provide more than 1000 AirGradient ONE air quality monitors for this project.

Besides the supply of the hardware, a key feature of AirGradient’s offer was the ability to customize the firmware of the monitor to meet specific research requirements, e.g. the dynamic customization of CO2 color bands and the frequency of data transmission.

Knowledge Base

Here you find important information for the co-location testing.

AirGradient Co-Location Data Request Procedure

AirGradient Co-Location Project Protocols

Connecting to WiFi

Data Schema of Reference Data