Years of research and consultation with local government and industry experts inform a series of simple guides to installing and using low-cost smart environmental sensing devices.

One of the low-cost smart environmental sensing devices involved in the OPENAIR project. Credit: UTS

The Operational Network of Air Quality Impact Resources (OPENAIR) project provides a common method for local councils to measure air quality so that they can respond to the air quality issues that affect their communities.

Over the past two years, a cohort of universities, NSW councils and subject matter experts have worked together to produce a series of resources to guide users through the process of deploying smart sensors to measure air quality.

Now available is the OPENAIR Best Practice Guide, a collection of 63 documents including:

· 16 factsheets that summarise key topics;

· 34 Best Practice Guide chapters that provide detailed information on specific topics; and

· 13 supplementary tools and templates for use with the Best Practice Guide.

The resources are divided into the six stages of the OPENAIR Impact Planning Cycle:

1. Identify

2. Develop

3. Implement and operate

4. Manage and analyse data

5. Act on evidence

6. Evaluate.

Together, they will guide local governments through each stage of the Impact Planning Cycle, from introducing concepts to measuring the impact of their smart low-cost sensing devices. It’s recommended that local governments follow this cycle to ensure their air quality initiative is effective.

The OPENAIR resources were created by experts from the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), the Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney (UTS), University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, Sitelines Media and Natirar Consulting.

The resources were informed by industry experience and academic expertise, and international resources.

The Best Practice Guide resources were also adapted in response to the real-life implementation of smart low-cost air monitoring devices in local government areas in NSW.

“These resources are the result of a collaboration between councils and subject matter experts,” OPENAIR Project leader and NSSN Theme Leader Peter Runcie said.

”They contain a mix of business and technology related content in recognition that to be effective, any technology project needs to be undertaken in a business context.”

The OPENAIR project was led by the NSSN, in partnership with the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures. This project received a co-contribution from the Smart Places Acceleration Program, a special reservation under the NSW Government’s Digital Restart Fund.

The resources are available to download at https://openair.org.au/

Free resources to help councils with best practice air quality testing