Update: Shown below, we have 50 monitors ready to deploy! Each one has sensors for noise, ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. 

 

Fig 1. The aims support development of the distributed monitoring network. Example hazard map (right) depicts high exposures (dark red) for worker at lower left. 

The goal of this work is to develop an inexpensive distributed monitoring network to produce hazard maps of high temporal resolution and estimates of personal exposures that only require tracking worker location (Fig 1). We will conduct a laboratory study to characterize operating characteristics of inexpensive aerosol, ozone, and noise sensors and one optimal sensor of each type will be integrated into a network-ready monitor (Aim 1). In Aim 2, this monitor will be deployed over 1-year in distributed networks in two industrial workplaces: one with fume and oil mist exposures from steady-state operations; and a USAF aircraft maintenance facility with metal exposures from batch operations (e.g., grind, sand, strip, and paint). Personal exposures estimated with network and tracking data will be compared to those obtained through personal sampling (Aim 3). The proposed investigators serve in specialized roles aligned with their expertise: Dr. Peters in novel aerosol exposure assessment; Dr. Koehler in exposure assessment and geostatistical methods applied to interpret direct-reading data; and Dr. Thomas in building, networking, and fielding monitoring systems for industry.

Here is Sinan working in the lab on the prototype network of aerosol sensors.