An overview of outdoor low-cost gas-phase air quality sensor deployments: current efforts, trends, and limitations

Abstract

We reviewed 60 sensor networks and 17 related efforts (sensor review papers and data accessibility projects) to better understand the landscape of stationary low-cost gas-phase sensor networks deployed in outdoor environments worldwide. This study is not exhaustive of every gas-phase sensor network on the globe but rather exists to categorize types of sensor networks by their key characteristics and explore general trends. This also exposes gaps in monitoring efforts to date, especially regarding the availability of gas-phase measurements compared to particulate matter (PM) and geographic coverage gaps (the Global South, rural areas). We categorize ground-based networks that measure gas-phase air pollutants into two main subsets based on their deployment type - quasi-permanent (long term) and campaign (short to medium term) - and explore commonplace practices, strengths, and weaknesses of stationary monitoring networks. We conclude with a summary of cross-network unification and quality control efforts. This work aims to help scientists looking to build a sensor network explore best practices and common pathways and aid end users in finding low-cost sensor datasets that meet their needs.