Free resources to help councils with best practice air quality testing
Years of research and consultation with local government and industry experts inform a series of simple guides to installing and using low-cost smart sensing devices.
The Operational Network of Air Quality Impact Resources (OPENAIR) project provides a common method for local councils to measure air quality so that they can respond to the air quality issues that affect their communities.
Over the past two years, a cohort of universities, NSW councils and subject matter experts have worked together to produce a series of resources to guide users through the process of deploying smart sensors to measure air quality.
Now available is the OPENAIR Best Practice Guide, a collection of 64 documents including:
16 factsheets that summarise key topics;
34 Best Practice Guide chapters that provide detailed information on specific topics; and
14 supplementary tools and templates for use with the Best Practice Guide.
The resources are divided into the six stages of the OPENAIR Impact Planning Cycle:
Identify
Develop
Implement and operate
Manage and analyse data
Act on evidence
Evaluate.
Graphic from the OPENAIR Best Practice Guide.
They will guide local governments through each stage of the Impact Planning Cycle, from introducing concepts to measuring the impact of their smart low-cost sensing devices. It’s recommended that local governments follow this cycle, while understanding that that improvements are made at each stage based on new information and changing needs.
"These resources are practical tools informed by real-world application that can help local governments conduct affordable air quality monitoring projects", says ISF Research Principal Erica McIntyre.
"The data created from local air quality monitoring projects can be used to improve local and regional environmental issues. Having more localised data means that targeted strategies can be implemented to reduce air pollution and heat, which will improve the health and wellbeing of communities."
The OPENAIR resources were created by experts from the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), Natirar, the Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, and Sitelines Media. The resources were informed by industry experience and academic expertise, and international resources. The Best Practice Guide resources were also adapted in response to the real-life implementation of smart low-cost air monitoring devices in local government areas in NSW.
The OPENAIR Impact Planning Cycle
The OPENAIR project was led by the NSSN, in partnership with the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures. This project received a co-contribution from the Smart Places Acceleration Program, a special reservation under the NSW Government’s Digital Restart Fund.
more info
The resources are available to download at https://openair.org.au/
