Have You Heard of the PurpleAir Collective?
The PurpleAir Collective is a sensor donation initiative that seeks to empower our community through the expansion of air quality sensor networks. Through the program, community members can apply for donated sensors. Unlike similar programs, we’ve implemented no restrictions regarding who can apply. This way, anyone, from non-profit organizations to individuals concerned about air quality, can apply and receive sensors.
Earlier this year, we announced and ran the first round of the Collective. As a result, we received over fifteen applications and even more votes on the final selection poll. Considering that this was the first run, we believe these numbers indicate success, and we want to again thank everyone who submitted, voted, or supported the program in any other way!
However, it isn’t over. The sensors donated for round one of the Collective are now being used in a small number of projects. As part of our thank you, we want to share some small updates about a couple of the selected projects.
Project Updates
Scioto County Storm Chase Center
Two PurpleAir Flex sensors were donated to the Scioto County Storm Chase Center based out of Scioto County, Ohio. Focused on disseminating weather information to surrounding counties, air quality data seemed like a natural addition to the center’s offerings. So, when the first round of the collective was announced, Gregory Syroney from the center put in a submission. In a recent check-back with Gregory, he said this:
“Since the Scioto County Storm Chaser Center received their PurpleAir Air Quality Sensors from the PurpleAir Collective, they have been deployed at two different locations about 2 miles apart. One is set up at the Scioto County Storm Chaser Center's Headquarters, and the other is set up about 2 miles south of our headquarters. They are on the Scioto County Storm Chaser Center's website at the following link: http://stormchasercenter.net/PurpleAir.aspx, along with three other locations in the Center's coverage area. They are also on the AirNow website on the Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Scioto County Storm Chaser Center is very grateful for the donations of the PurpleAir Air Quality Sensors. People can now go to the Scioto County Storm Chaser Center's website and view their air quality status http://stormchasercenter.net/.
I would like to thank everyone that voted for the Scioto County Storm Chaser Center to help us be the highest Non-Profit Organization to get the highest votes to receive these PurpleAir air quality sensors. Thank you all very much for your votes.”
Montserrat Volcanic Research
Rosie Lewis received a few PurpleAir sensors for her PhD research involving the measuring of volcanic air pollution produced on the island of Montserrat in the Eastern Caribbean. In a recent check-back with Rosie, she said this:
“My PhD project aims to conduct the first comprehensive assessment of the concentrations and dispersion of volcanic air pollution on Montserrat, Eastern Caribbean. With donated sensors from the PurpleAir Collective program, I was able to make vital repairs to my network of air quality sensors on Montserrat, with several of the sensors installed in 2023 having sustained damage from tough environmental conditions. This allows me to ensure continued data collection over the next year of the project. With the support of Montserrat Volcano Observatory, I successfully installed a PurpleAir sensor in the volcanic exclusion zone. This now provides us with live data from a site where retrieving SD cards previously proved challenging.
(Montserrat, Eastern Caribbean)
Whilst on-island, I hosted a stakeholder meeting to provide project updates to collaborators and key decision-makers. It was particularly useful to gain insight into how real-time data from my PurpleAir network is being used for assessing and communicating air quality risk from Saharan Dust events by the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service and the Montserrat Disaster Management Coordination Agency. I also led an interactive lesson on air quality with local schoolchildren, who particularly enjoyed seeing their school sensor on the PurpleAir map! Thank you PurpleAir, for your support!”
The PurpleAir Collective Round Two
The second round of the Collective is currently underway. The submission period is over; however, you can still vote for a project! We encourage all of you to vote, as it lets us know where our community thinks sensors should go and gets sensors into the hands of people who need them. Thank you for your support!