Key Messages

Strategically placed sensors can monitor air pollution and provide a detailed picture of air quality and its variability within a region. Low-cost sensors (LCSs) that measure PM2.5 are becoming increasingly popular because of their low cost, ease of use, and portability. However, the portability and low cost come with trade-offs on data quality, reliability, and shelf life. The typical shelf life of LCSs is around a year to two. Also, the raw data from these LCSs need to be calibrated. This report documents the best practices for establishing and maintaining an LCS network.


Meenakshi Kushwaha (ILK Labs), Pratyush Agrawal (ILK Labs), Adithi R Upadhya (ILK Labs), and Vinod Solomon (ILK Labs) are the co-authors of this paper.