School of Public Health Centering Community Input for Chicago Air Quality Project
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In a partnership with the City of Chicago named Open Air Chicago, the UIC School of Public Health is helping to monitor air quality in Chicago. Through funding from public and private sector grants, UIC purchased 60% of the air quality sensors that the city has installed in 60 Chicago ZIP codes.The sensors detect fine particulates, such as dust or soot, as well as nitrogen dioxide, which can exacerbate asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Location of the sensors was informed with community input about, for example, where cars and trucks tend to idle or high-risk locations such as hospitals, schools or daycares. Data captured by the sensors is publicly accessible via an online dashboard, which can be used to guide urban planning initiatives and to target specific hotspots for air-quality control.