Mobile devices fitted to trains can sense greenhouse gas emissions and monitor air quality at a lower cost, research by the University of Utah has found.
The reality is that top-end, research-grade air quality monitors usually cost approximately £300,400 each. This expense motivated researchers at the University of Utah to trial mobile greenhouse gas measurement systems on light rail trains that continuously travel as part of the public transport network in Salt Lake Valley.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, was estimated that a single train-mounted monitor covers the same area 30 stationary sensors could reasonably monitor.
Whereas towns and cities endeavouring to monitor greenhouse gas emissions may be limited by cost on the number of sensors they can install, this highly cost-effective way has the potential to monitor air quality and fill the gaps in emission estimates.
‘Pollutant levels in the atmosphere are going to be rapidly changing in the coming decade as clean energy technologies are deployed,’ commented Logan Mitchell, professor of atmospheric science co-author of the study.
‘Cost-effective atmospheric monitoring will help policymakers understand what policies lead to reductions in pollutant levels, where there needs to be more focus, and if there are environmental inequalities emerging as some areas reduce their emissions faster than other areas.’
Meanwhile, WCRAQ propose a similar implementation of air monitors across refuse collective vehicles in order to create a roadmap of UK air quality. Read more about this initiative here.
