Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), NSF NHERI 2024: Low-Cost Air Monitor Accuracy and Specification Comparison for Community-Based Monitoring

This study compares low-cost air pollution monitoring devices within the scope of providing community researchers with information to enable community-based environmental monitoring (CBEM). This paper focuses on increasing the information of accuracy of indoor and outdoor models, these are the Purple Air Zen, Purple Air Flex, Clarity Node-S, IQAir Indoor Visual Pro and IQ Air AirVisual Outdoor Monitor. This paper aims to empower communities through increased data on air pollution monitoring devices that help inform potential community researchers on the accuracy and specifications across air quality monitors. This data is unique because it is comparing low-cost cutting edge air quality devices to each other and commenting on environmental impact and potential for informing community-based data collection. The audience is communities or researchers choosing an air quality measuring device who are interested in learning about the accuracy and environmental impact and data features across devices.