PGIF Project: Towards closing the air pollution data gap in sub-Saharan Africa through international collaboration and capacity building

Primary Investigator

Daniel M. Westervelt

Lamont Assistant Research Professor in the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

 [email protected]

 +1 845 365 8194

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Project Description

Air pollution in Africa is a growing problem, yet there is little data available to quantify the impact on human health. Low cost sensors (LCS) for air pollution monitoring offer a feasible approach to obtaining the necessary amount of pollution data to spur regulatory action and management towards cleaner air. We propose to collaborate with the Nairobi Global Center, local researchers and students, and Columbia University students and faculty, to develop and implement cost-effective methods for obtaining high quality data from LCS. A research project on calibration of LCS in Nairobi will also simultaneously serve as an educational training data set for building capacity both for East African and Columbia University students and researchers. We will hold two workshops aimed at training scientists on best practices for LCS deployment, calibration, data analysis, and applications. PI Westervelt has previously established collaborations with three local universities as facilitated by the Columbia Global Center (CGC) in Nairobi, and here we will leverage these existing collaborations on air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa and complement ongoing efforts.