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.