Curated Guidance for Stage 1 Assess where you are in Air Quality Monitoring to determine which stage you are in and identify the key activities you need to undertake as an air quality manager to go to the next stage. The guidance below is for Stage 1. Additional guidance for Stages 2 through 5 is being developed for future iterations of AQMx. StageCapacityObjectivesActivitiesData ManagementSustainability Plan01.Very limited staff resources with basic technical trainingNo laboratory / analytical capacityUnreliable / inexistant access to electricity at monitoring sitesBaseline assessment of air pollution levels relative to current standards and WHO guidelinesDeploy 1 reference-grade continuous PM2.5 monitor at a safe, powered, representative site Consider the value of passive sampling (diffusion tubes) to monitor levels and identify potential siting needs(*Note – See integrated manual sampler guidance under Source Attribution guidance)Establish QA/QC protocols for deployed equipmentConduct annual auditEstablish a data management system with quality assurance (QA) review, validation and analysisEstablish training, procurement and supply chain vendors to support the monitoring programmeEnsure adequate budget and staff resources including for routine maintenance of the equipment02.Limited staff resources, basic technical training with some practical experienceLimited laboratory /analytical capacityUninterruptible power supply (UPS) system in placeStrengthen monitoring and build up a robust data historyMonitor gaseous pollutants (SO2, NOx, O3, CO) and potentially VOC (by diffusion tubes)Expand the network by adding 2-3 new continuous reference monitor sitesEstablish collaboration with HydroMet services and identify joint siting plansAdd new network elements to Quality Assurance Project PlanAdd gas calibration to Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) or equivalent and data management systemPhase I calibration of continuous monitors (co-locate with regulatory sites to bias-correct)Phase II calibration of continuous monitors (ongoin periodic calibration to establish sensitivity trend)Scale budget and resources to expanded networkEnsure budget for routine maintenance and replacement costsTrain staff on the operation and maintenance of gaseous analyzers03.Some advanced technical training and practical experienceAccess to, or conducts own limited lab analysisRegular access to electricity (with some outages)Track trendsMulti-site exposure assessmentCalibrate satellite measurementsReal-time public information with health messagingSource attributionAdd multi-channel speciation sampler to establish a super siteEstablish analytic capacity for limited chemical speciationExpand gas monitors to other regulatory sites.Establish an Air Quality Index (AQI) for real-time reportingData server for real- time AQI disseminationQuality assurance updated for multi-channel samplerAudit procedures for chemical speciation and laboratoryScale budget/ resources for networkAppropriately staff and fund analytical laboratoryTrain staff for source apportionment analysisEstablish procurement and contracts for AQI software (if an external service provider is used)04.Some advanced technical training in addition to specialists in air quality monitoring and managementAccess to or conducts advanced lab analysis Consistent access to electricity (with infrequent outages)Air quality forecasting Source apportionmentEquip additional sites with multi-channel speciation samplersExpand chemical speciation laboratoryWork with met services counterparts to share monitoring data and computational resources for chemical transport modeling/forecastingExpand quality assurance protocols for chemical speciation measurementsContinue to periodically calibrate and audit all equipmentEstablish institutional arrangements between met services and environment staffEstablish reporting lines, data sharing structure and computational resources05.Same as stage 4 + specialists in emissions inventories, modelling, data management, communicationsIn-house, advanced lab analysisConsistent access to electricityAir toxics monitoringContinuous emission monitorsSpecial research projectsBuild out monitoring network per guidance from WMO/GAW, USEPA, Copernicus/EMEPDetailed step-by-step instructions for calibration, audits, QA/QCThresholds and tolerances for validationRobust national monitoring budgetResource allocation guided by survey of national budgeting practice 01 Make a planReview the steps below and make sure you/your department have adequate staffing, resources and authority to carry through with what is required (including quality assurance, data validation and data analysis). Ensure that your management is committed to sustaining your efforts beyond your/their tenure. You can get a good overview by reading the resources below. Improving Air Quality Monitoring in Asia - A Good Practice Guidance 2014 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Guidance Framework for Better Air Quality in Asian Cities - Air Quality Monitoring and Ambient Air Quality Standards 2016 Guidelines, Tools & Models Opportunities and challenges for filling the air quality data gap in low- and middle-income countries 2019 Scientific publications Air Quality Monitoring Plan Draft Template 2022 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 02 Establish monitoring objectivesAgencies will monitor for different reasons. These include establishing baseline conditions, checking compliance with ambient standards, raising public awareness, understanding source attribution, establishing trends, exposure assessment, calibrating remote sensing data or atmospheric research. Each objective may drive decisions about siting, monitoring approach and the levels of accuracy and precision needed. Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix D to Part 58) 2014 Guidelines, Tools & Models Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements Megacities Monitoring Slide Deck 2023 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 03 Identify potential sitesSiting criteria may differ among countries; however, best practices follow similar principles. Briefly, one should avoid areas with nearby obstructions (e.g. walls or large trees) that impede free air flow, and the sampling inlet should ideally be 1.5-3 m above ground level (close to the typical human breathing zone). Next, choose the type of site you wish to monitor. The highest priority is to monitor residential areas of high population density, as we usually monitor air quality to improve human health. Additional monitors may be placed near potential otspots (e.g. alongside highway roads with heavy diesel traffic) or industrial zones. After that, it is good to monitor areas that are upwind of population density or emission sources to establish background concentrations of air pollution. Diffusion tubes can provide useful information on gaseous pollutants levels and can help identify siting needs. The criteria below provide context for detailed site selection, such as avoiding nearby sources and buildings to ensure the location is representative of ambient conditions across the area. Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix D to Part 58) 2014 Guidelines, Tools & Models Probe and Monitoring Path Siting Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix E to Part 58 - Appendix E) Guidelines, Tools & Models Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements Diffusion Tubes for NO2 Monitoring: Practical Guidance for Laboratories and Users 2008 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 04 Buy your first regulatory-grade monitor and supplies and ensure adequate technical supportFor jurisdictions with no prior experience with AQ monitoring, it is recommended to buy and deploy a single regulatory grade* (FEM), continuous PM2.5 instrument (usually a beta attenuation monitor or BAM). Such instruments usually require supplies (e.g. filter tapes, which last a month on average), so buy an adequate (1-3 years) supply. You may also wish to buy a HEPA filter for zero checks, and a flow verification device. Obtain bids from several vendors and consider price, but also consider customer support for installation, testing as well as ongoing maintenance after installation. This also requires co-located meteorological measurements, a data logger and (optionally) technology to transmit data to a central computer or data server located in department offices. Arranging product support is critical to ensure service and sustainability. Federal Equivalency Method refers to U.S. EPA 40 CFR 58 Appendix D definition of monitors that provide comparable results to Federal Reference Methods, also defined in Appendix D. These instruments have been shown to provide highly reliable results under a range of conditions with accuracy and precision needed for compliance monitoring.*Federal Equivalency Method refers to U.S. EPA 40 CFR 58 Appendix D definition of monitors that provide comparable results to Federal Reference Methods, also defined in Appendix D. These instruments have been shown to provide highly reliable results under a range of conditions with accuracy and precision needed for compliance monitoring. List of designated reference and equivalent methods 2020 Guidelines, Tools & Models PM 2.5 Continuous Monitoring 2016 Guidelines, Tools & Models Guide to the demonstration of equivalence of ambient air monitoring methods 2022 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements Previous Next Show Resources Hide Resources 05 Installation/Calibration/Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Most vendors will provide installation services, but you should ensure that they use US EPA certified or EU Directive test methods to calibrate equipment and ensure it is operational and reporting appropriate values. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) should be provided or developed for staff to use for routine operations and periodic maintenance. Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC) Guidelines, Tools & Models Standard Operating Procedure for the Continuous Measurement of Particulate Matter - Met One BAM-1020 PM2.5 Federal Equivalent Method EQPM-0308-170 2009 Guidelines, Tools & Models Standard Operating Procedures for Ambient Air Monitoring Guidelines, Tools & Models Standard Operating Procedure Teledyne Model 640x Real-Time Continuous PM Monitor 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show more Hide 06 Validation/Quality Assurance/Quality ControlEstablish Data Quality Objectives and then develop quality control and quality assurance plan that ensure you will meet your data quality objectives for the specific measurements. The guidance documents below are designed for sophisticated national networks but are a guide for establishing simpler procedures that work for a single monitor. See for example the EPA Ghana guidance adapted for the Ghana monitoring network. Quality Assurance Guidance - Monitoring PM2.5 in Ambient Air Using Designated Reference or Class I Equivalent Methods 2016 Guidelines, Tools & Models Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements Quality Assurance Project Plan For Particulate Matter Pollutant Air Monitoring Program 2020 Guidelines, Tools & Models Module 7: Data Verification and Validation Online Training & Resources Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems. Volume IV Meteorological Measurements Version 2.0 (Final) 2008 Guidelines, Tools & Models Previous Next Show more Hide 07 Data ManagementReal-time data should flow to a central computer system with backup redundancy and archive, but many instruments have a USB port for data retrieval and manual storage if internet connectivity and servers are unavailable. In this way data can be transferred manually to a centralized data system. System design should allow for various types of data (integrated filter mass and chemical speciation analysis) in the future as well as both “raw” and “final” data following validation procedures (Step #6) and associated meta data such as quality flags. Consider the hardware requirements for the system including software licenses and training for staff on their use. Air Quality System (AQS) Database Data management systems: Vital infrastructure needed to inform action on air quality 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide 08 Training/Capacity Building for Monitoring StaffStaff assigned with monitoring roles should be trained on how to use the equipment following the SOPs developed under Step #5. Training is also needed related to quality assurance and quality control procedures described under Step #6 and data management under Step #7. Regular exchanges with other air quality monitoring network, to share best practices and learn about pitfalls to avoid is also crucial to strengthening the capacity of the monitoring staff. IBAQ Learning Module: Guidance Area 1: Ambient Air Quality Standards and Monitoring Online Training & Resources Best practices for review and validation of ambient air monitoring data 2021 Guidelines, Tools & Models Lecture 56: Sampling and Analysis of PM2.5 in Ambient Air 2018 Online Training & Resources Previous Next Show more Hide 09 Make the data availableIt is essential to make the data available to the research community and the public by establishing a data archive that is accessible within a reasonable period and includes appropriate metadata. Share data fully and openly: in physical units, with station-specific coordinates, in daily or sub-daily frequency, and in a format that is machine-readable. This facilitates collaboration and innovation across civil society, government and the private sector to support you in solving air pollution. Examples include US EPA’s AirNow and Air Quality System (AQS) and other national examples listed below. It is also good to distribute data through outside providers such as OpenAQ and others. (See Public Engagement and Communication guidance for smart-phone apps, website development and public awareness raising). OpenAQ Explorer Database Air Quality System (AQS) Database Airquality.lk Database South African Air Quality Information System (SAAQIS) Database Previous Next Show more Hide 10 Use the dataOne of the biggest mistakes that agencies can make is to collect data and then let it sit on a shelf. The point in collecting AQ data is to conduct a baseline assessment relative to national standards and WHO health based AQ guidelines, so we can quantify the human health impacts of air pollution and make data-based decisions about the steps that can be taken to improve air quality. Annual “State of the Air” reports can be an impactful way to raise awareness, support policy and enable decision makers to engage stakeholders on the issue. Or the development of a public health messaging campaign for exposure mitigation (See guidance on Public Engagement and Communications) and development of an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) based on an assessment of the data. Integrated Air Quality and Climate Management Plan (AQCMP) Template 2023 Guidelines, Tools & Models Punjab State of the Environment Report 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Greater Accra Region Air Quality Management Plan 2018 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements Strategic plan for the integrated management of air quality in Bogota 2030 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments Previous Next Show more Hide Curated Guidance Developed by
Improving Air Quality Monitoring in Asia - A Good Practice Guidance 2014 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
Guidance Framework for Better Air Quality in Asian Cities - Air Quality Monitoring and Ambient Air Quality Standards 2016 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Opportunities and challenges for filling the air quality data gap in low- and middle-income countries 2019 Scientific publications
Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix D to Part 58) 2014 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements
Network Design Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix D to Part 58) 2014 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Probe and Monitoring Path Siting Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (40 CFR Appendix E to Part 58 - Appendix E) Guidelines, Tools & Models
Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements
Diffusion Tubes for NO2 Monitoring: Practical Guidance for Laboratories and Users 2008 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Guide to the demonstration of equivalence of ambient air monitoring methods 2022 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements
Standard Operating Procedure for the Continuous Measurement of Particulate Matter - Met One BAM-1020 PM2.5 Federal Equivalent Method EQPM-0308-170 2009 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Standard Operating Procedure Teledyne Model 640x Real-Time Continuous PM Monitor 2019 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Quality Assurance Guidance - Monitoring PM2.5 in Ambient Air Using Designated Reference or Class I Equivalent Methods 2016 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe 2008 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements
Quality Assurance Project Plan For Particulate Matter Pollutant Air Monitoring Program 2020 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems. Volume IV Meteorological Measurements Version 2.0 (Final) 2008 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Data management systems: Vital infrastructure needed to inform action on air quality 2023 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments
IBAQ Learning Module: Guidance Area 1: Ambient Air Quality Standards and Monitoring Online Training & Resources
Best practices for review and validation of ambient air monitoring data 2021 Guidelines, Tools & Models
Greater Accra Region Air Quality Management Plan 2018 Standards, Regulation, Legislation and Agreements
Strategic plan for the integrated management of air quality in Bogota 2030 2021 Reports, Case Studies & Assessments