Air Monitoring
Act on Air: The Philly Air Monitor Project
Philly Community Wireless has been working since 2023 to deploy PurpleAir monitors on our public network. Since 2023, we have installed over a dozen air monitors in the North Philadelphia neighborhoods of Norris Square, Fairhill, and Kensington at several install sites around our network to provide real-time air monitoring.
PCW is well-positioned to install these devices in public and private locations near street-level, on a community wifi network with dedicated network monitoring to track the status of the air monitors and maintain their quality. By installing monitors across the surrounding area, we can measure air quality at a granular level, comparing air quality on streets and parks, gardens and rooftops. During the 2023 wildfire smoke events in the city and surrounding area, our air monitors registered drastic changes in air quality.
Measuring Air Quality
Purple air monitors enable communities to engage in citizen science around pollution in their neighborhoods, helping folks understand:
- If the air quality is good or not good in their area
- How it compares to other parts of the city
Real-time air quality data can be viewed on PurpleAir’s map.
Working with the EPA and Our Partners
We are grateful to receive support from the EPA’s Region 3 Sensor Loan Program, as well as from such organizational partners as the Clean Air Council, Temple University’s Geography and Urban Studies Program led by Prof. Christina Rosan, the University of Pennsylvania, and Haverford College.
Air Monitor Installations
PCW-installed air monitors are presently at:
- Cesar Andreú Iglesias Community Garden
- GALAEI
- HACE - Caribe Tower
- HACE - Somerset Villas
- Kensington Library
- Lillian Marrero Library
- Multiple Residential Homes of PCW’s Community
- NKCDC’s Kensington Engagement Center
- Norris Square Neighborhood Project
- NSNP - Las Parcelas Garden
- NSNP - Raíces Garden
- The Lighthouse 1893
- West Kensington Ministry