Ultralow Power Sensor Package for Ground Level Air Pollution Levels from Wildland Fires

Wild fires produce significant air pollution, posing health risks to first responders, residents in nearby areas, and downwind communities. Wildfires are increasing in size and intensity, and the fire season is growing longer. Technologies for measuring air pollutants, including particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon dioxide, over the wide range of levels expected in areas downwind of wildland fires are needed. KWJ proposes to integrate low cost gas sensors and particle sensor into a single, <802 package with the dimensions <4"x5"x1" (10x12.5x2.5cm). In Phase I, we evaluated ultra-low cost printed sensors from SPEC Sensors, LLC, using a prototype low-noise electronics, and CO2 and PM sensors from other manufacturers against a bench of Alphasense sensors, widely accepted as the current state-of-the-art in gas sensors and optical particle detection. In Phase II, we plan to assemble and field-test a sensor package which can be deployed in a variety of ways: worn by personnel, attached to stands which can be located and relocated around the perimeter, deployed around the fire perimeter on vehicles and drones. With wireless communication, and low cost, these monitors can be permanently deployed in remote locations to monitor air quality and alert downwind areas of pollution hazards. In the Phase II Commercialization Option, we also plan to evaluate the feasibility of a low-cost electrost atic PM sensor, which will measure particles down to 5nm, and use far less power than the optical sensors.