Alphasense Low-Cost PM Sensor Technology Development

This is a continuation of an earlier contract between the Particle Instruments Research Group and Alphasense Ltd, a leading manufacturer of gas sensors and low-cost air quality monitors. The previous contract focused on the development of the Alphasense OPC-N2 optical particle counter / PM monitor which has now been sold in more than 40 countries worldwide. Publications relating to the capabilities and deployment of the OPC-N2 are in process. The new project phase is focused on further developments in the area of low-cost air quality monitoring and networks of sensors to provide accurate and traceable particle mass concentration data in PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 formats.

Air quality and its effect on public health is now a major cause for concern throughout the developed world. Authorities are engaged in many approaches, such as traffic restrictions, reductions in diesel vehicles on the roads, etc., aimed at improving air quality and there is an ongoing need for low-cost but accurate instruments that can be used to measure the temporal and spatial behaviour of the airborne particulate pollutants that cause many of the observed health impacts. This project is engaged in the development of low-cost air quality sensors that can meet this demand.