Our work encompasses the analysis of ambient air pollutants using reference- or research-grade instruments and low-cost sensors. We go beyond PM mass concentrations to investigate aerosol composition with state-of-the-art filter-based laboratory analysis and in-situ instrumentation. Our expertise in the proper, science-guided use of these techniques is obtained by conducting field campaigns, source apportionment studies, and systematic evaluations of low-cost sensors, as well as literature reviews. We share this knowledge with the wider community through capacity-building workshops, data portals, and scientific publications. Our data are used to inform policy and support model development.
The diesel generator dilemma: Reliable power, unwanted emissions
If you face frequent power outages in your area, diesel generators (DGs) are possibly your only saviour during such times. They are known to provide reliable and uninterrupted power supply, which is especially needed in rural regions or areas with limited access to the grid. DG sets are an important tool, particularly for sectors such as telecommunications and healthcare.
But have you wondered about their emissions and how harmful they are to humans and the environment?
Press Release: Stubble management: Harnessing ex-situ options and market mechanisms
As we head into yet another rice harvesting season in Punjab, the search for effective solutions to manage stubble continues. In 2021, over 50% of the rice stubble in the region was burnt, a practice that exacerbates respiratory illnesses, depletes soil fertility, and increases air pollution across neighbouring states.
Stubble management: Harnessing ex-situ options and market mechanisms
Punjab, known as the ‘Granary of India’, is among the top three producers of food grain in the country, with over 11 million tonnes of rice and 16 million tonnes of wheat produced every year. The state relies heavily on the rice–wheat cropping pattern, wherein rice is cultivated during the kharif (summer) season and wheat during the rabi (winter) season. These two crops occupy over 80% of Punjab’s total cropped area. To handle this large-scale crop harvesting, farmers have transitioned to using mechanical harvesters, leaving stubble on the ground.
Introducing the CSTEP Air Quality sector
Air quality can be improved through well-designed air quality management plans that are effectively implemented. For this, we need to know the sources impacting a certain location; the emissions contributed by each source; the interventions that can reduce these emissions; the cost of those interventions; and once implemented, their effectiveness. The sources in question can be local (e.g., city traffic emissions), transboundary (e.g., an industry outside a city or sources in another state), or natural (e.g., desert dust or wildfires).
ASIC 2024: Building faith in sensor data and increasing community participation
The Air Sensors International Conference (ASIC) 2024 was concluded at Riverside, California, USA, in May 2024. With participation from over 35 countries, the conference proceedings laid emphasis on expanding the use of sensors beyond increasing monitoring capacity. The conference enabled academics and industry experts to discuss the current challenges in the mass adoption of sensors for research and actual monitoring. During the South Asia-focused session, the authors participated in a discussion on the advances in the use of sensors in Bengaluru and Delhi NCR.