Grantee Research Project Results

2016 Progress Report: The Hawaii Island Volcanic Smog Sensor Network (HI-Vog): Tracking airquality and community engagement near a major emissions hotspot

EPA Grant Number: R836183
Title: The Hawaii Island Volcanic Smog Sensor Network (HI-Vog): Tracking airquality and community engagement near a major emissions hotspot
Investigators: Kroll, Jesse H. , Heald, Colette L.
Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology , The Kohala Center
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2019 (Extended to April 30, 2022)
Project Period Covered by this Report: May 1, 2016 through April 30,2017
Project Amount: $750,000
RFA: Air Pollution Monitoring for Communities (2014) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Endocrine Disruptors , Environmental Engineering , Environmental Justice , Watersheds

Objective:

Air quality on the Island of Hawai‘i (“the Big Island”) can be poor due to high emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) from Kilauea Volcano. The resulting “volcanic smog” (“vog”),  a mixture of SO₂ and fine particulate matter (PM), has negative impacts on human health as well as agriculture, and consequently is a major concern of local communities. Because of the high variability of the volcanic plume, community members’ exposures to vog cannot be easily estimated. The region thus serves as a unique test case for the use and assessment of distributed air quality (AQ) networks based on portable low-cost sensors. This project entails the development and deployment of a state-of-the-art community-based AQ sensor network across Hawai‘i Island, for the measurement of SO₂ and PM levels with high spatial and temporal resolution. The network aims to provide improved measurements of air quality and vog exposures across the island, as well as to assess the utility of AQ sensor networks as community resources and as tools for atmospheric chemistry research.

Progress Summary:

Year 1 of this project focused on a proof-of-concept for low-cost SO₂ measurements on the island. SO₂ sensor prototypes were designed and constructed, and in January 2017 were deployed around the island, at air quality stations run by the Hawaii Department of Health and a number of local schools. Most are still functioning after 6 months of deployment; those located at air quality stations are also providing insight into the accuracy and drift of such sensors. The high accuracy (with errors of <10 ppb SO₂), stability, and robustness of the sensors provide confidence about the effectiveness of the planned sensor network, and the next-generation sensor node is currently being designed. Additionally, the PI and co-I, in collaboration with The Kohala Center (TKC) have been connecting with local teachers and principals, in order to plan and coordinate sensor installation, and to gain a sense of challenges and opportunities associated with the use of sensors at local schools.

Future Activities:

Work in Year 2 will include (1) continued characterization of low-cost sensors, based on not only data from the deployed SO₂ sensors but also new laboratory studies aimed at characterizing the ability of optical particle counters (OPC) to measure PM mass; (2) the design, construction, and testing of the sensor nodes for the full network deployment; (3) design of the project website, to provide the community with real-time AQ data; and (4) engagement with local educators to provide information about the project and solicit feedback.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 11 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Volcanic emissions, air pollution, vog, sulfur dioxide, SO₂, sulfate, particulate matter, low-cost sensors, sensor networks, community engagement, science curriculum

Relevant Websites:

Hawai‘i Island Air Quality (HIAQ) Exit

 

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2017 Progress Report

2018 Progress Report

2019 Progress Report

2020 Progress Report

Final Report