The Context

Air pollution is a major global health risk throughout densely populated urban centers, especially in disadvantaged socioeconomic communities. Existing air pollution sensor locations are limited and sparsely located in urban areas. More information on specific air pollutants and their health implications is available here: Criteria Air Pollutants

The Problem

Hyperlocal data is critically needed to make sound policy decisions and recommendations for air pollution control, environmental justice, and urban infrastructure improvement at the city level.

The Solution

The Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience (iSUPER) Impact Engine will pair low-cost, adaptable sensing technologies with novel pollution prediction models to accurately identify hyperlocal pollution hot spots in real time. This innovative use of these technologies will generate neighborhood-level data that will help guide decisionmakers towards effective governance and policymaking. The pilot program will measure data in two Boston neighborhoods representing communities with different histories, land use patterns, population densities, and pollution impact characteristics.

This work is supported by the Northeastern University Impact Engines program.

iSUPER Impact Engine

Good, no health adivsories - No health implications, enjoy your usual outdoor activities.

Moderate - Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Unhealthy for sensitive groups - People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should limit prolonged exertion.

Unhealthy - People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged exertion.

Very unhealthy - People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.

Harzardous - People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities; everyone else should avoid all outdoor exertion.

MA DEP monitoring station

iSUPER sensor

Emissions site, a source of air pollution; from the National Emissions Inventory of the US EPA.