## Choosing Sensors Often the first step is to look for a sensor for what you're hoping to measure. In the community posts below, we're collecting info on different kinds of air quality sensors, and their: * cost * sensitivity/accuracy * links and documentation Can you afford a sensor? Can it detect what you're looking for? Where can you learn more about it? ### Posts about choosing and evaluating an air sensor [notes:grid:air-sensor-eval] ### Expected ranges and useful detection limits for pollutants of interest This [table](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/air_sensors_webinar_slides_06-29-16.pdf) from an EPA [Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science webinar](https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/air_sensors_webinar_slides_06-29-16.pdf) lists the six criteria air pollutants and a couple additional pollutants, with background levels you might see in the environment in the “Range to Expect” column and useful detection limits for sensors. **** ## Wikis about air sensors [wikis:air-sensors] ## Air sensor projects Public Lab pages and posts tagged `air-sensor-projects` will appear here [nodes:air-sensor-projects] ## Questions [questions:air-sensors] ## Further reading and resources + Environmental consultant Tim Dye’s “[4 questions to ask before buying an air quality sensor](http://tdenviro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/4-questions-when-buying-air-sensors.pdf)” neatly summarizes what to consider when choosing an air sensor. + [Snuffle.org](http://www.snuffle.org/): lots of information on low-cost sensors for various air pollutants. + [Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC)](http://www.aqmd.gov/aq-spec/evaluations): from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, this program tests and evaluates air sensors “in the field, under ambient conditions, and in the laboratory under controlled environmental conditions.” + [Air Sensor Toolbox](https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox): from the US Environmental Protection Agency, this toolbox includes guidance on how to use air sensors and their data, plus information on sensor performance and evaluation results. ...
| Author | Comment | Last activity | Moderation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| stevie | "Hi @Cbarnes9 thanks for sharing out the questions! I'm also curious where you're referencing the field test for PM10 to be biased high? Is it in t..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| Ag8n | "The purple air monitors have a low r2 value for the pm10 testing. This may lead to the skewing that you are talking about. I corresponded with th..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| guolivar | "Following on @jeffalk answer, please expand on your question. In my opinion (and I've worked in aerosol science for a number of years) the main poi..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| guolivar | "As far as I know Plantower hasn't disclosed that (to be fair, I don't think any of the low-cost manufacturers has done either). From the field test..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| jeffalk | "I'd appreciate learning what in the document you referenced indicates to you that the PM10 is "biased rather high". Thanks " | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| jeffalk | "Hi. Given that you mention "silica" and you are at UW Eau Claire ( western wisconsin sand mining...) I take your question to really ask whether on..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| jeffalk | "I could be wrong but I do not believe optical particle counters use spectroscopy as the method is usually described. At any rate a number of years..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| Cbarnes9 | "I found the information about the 640 nm wavelength lasers quite interesting, thank you. I have been in communication from people from Lane Regiona..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| prashant0768 | "Laser scattering based PM sensor has tendency to show inaccuracy in particle between 2.5-10 um in size. Since Purple air as per specification i se..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| nanocastro | "Hi. Sorry for the late answer. We are using the PMS7003 but the 5003 is almost the same except for the size. We were using Arduino Mega with three..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| karlssonviking | "Hi... This is Viking Karlsson and I am new here and I need support from you peoples. I was surfing the net and at random land over here and find th..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| guolivar | "Here is a page about the PMS5003 and 7003 ... https://aqicn.org/sensor/pms5003-7003/ The difference seems to be in their internal layout. In that ..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| cfastie | "There is another version of this sensor with the same specifications and the same price but it is about half the size. Does anyone know any reason ..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "Thanks, everyone! " | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| kkoerner | "So, great timing, I was just working on doing this with an Arduino mega today (here are some pictures). I was going to do a more extensive writ..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| jywarren | "Wow, this got a reply on my posted question real fast. Thank you!!!! On Friday, October 26, 2018 at 12:45:33 PM UTC-4, notifications wrote: --..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| yamanoorsai | "This sensor comes with a serial output. Adafruit has an excellent tutorial on how to interface to an Arduino:https://learn.adafruit.com/pm25-air-qu..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "@guolivar @BrandonFeenstra @GreenFrogg @rockets @nanocastro do you have some information on this? Some folks are looking to build some sensor/datal..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "@guolivar have you read over these reports and do they factor into your assessment of the Purple Air? Thank you both! " | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "This is a GREAT post. Thank you so much!!! " | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "Ah, yes, confirmed by @guolivar's post: https://publiclab.org/notes/guolivar/01-08-2018/thoughts-on-low-cost-air-quality-sensors " | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| warren | "Quick update - the sensor in the Purple Air seems to be this one or one very similar, a laser based sensor with a fan -- the PMS5003 -- $30 shippe..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| stevie | "Hi @BrandonFeenstra ! I had a group asking me about the Dylos this morning, so I went to the AQMD website and found the report for it like the one ..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago | |||
| GreenFrogg | "I don't have experience with the Purple Air. The page is an overview made by the Dutch institute of environmental health (RIVM). They coordinate. Y..." | Read more » | over 5 years ago |