Urban air quality citizen science. Phase 3: findings of the pilot studies

This report provides a summary of the pilot studies conducted in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestonpans to test the viability of citizen science air quality monitoring studies within the constraints of existing and available technologies. The pilot studies draw on the experiences with the testing and evaluation of low-cost air quality monitoring devices described in the Scoping report reviewing and evaluating methods for undertaking an air quality Citizen Science programme and by Semple et al. (2012), while the overall study design is based on the framework discussed in Steinle et al. (2013). Furthermore, the pilot studies are based on the detailed elaboration of pilot studies summarised in the report Urban air quality citizen science - suggested programme of research projects. Two different pilot study approaches have been selected to test both a stationary air quality monitoring setup in the context of a secondary school, including the viability of using devices and monitoring methods in regular teaching activities, and using a mobile setup (with small backpacks including the air quality monitor as well as a GPS for geo-referencing). For the latter, the focus was on cyclists and volunteers were approached through existing contacts within the bike charity SPOKES (www.spokes.org.uk) and – through Transport Scotland – the Glasgow Bike Station. The main effort was not on providing air quality measurements, but on testing the approaches, methods, devices and engagement with citizen scientists. Thus, the focus of this deliverable is on the evaluation of these aspects.