Topic Areas:

Manuscript Keywords:

Community Science, Data Accessibility

Community Keywords:

Why is this useful?

Air pollution policy can only succeed with a high level of community engagement, and those most likely to become engaged are those who are most directly impacted by pollution [16, 9]. A significant amount of research has shown that the main producers of urban pollution are highly concentrated in disadvantaged, poor, and minority communities [15]. Therefore, these communities have the most potential to drive fruitful policy development if they are engaged in the process effectively.

Community engagement regarding air pollution has historically been a challenge due to the high cost of air monitoring technology [6]. However, the emergence of low-cost sensors creates opportunities for community-based organizations to collect data and perform community science [6]. Data by itself lacks the power to inform communities, and thus data communication becomes a foundational challenge in driving engagement. Interactive data visualization provides a powerful outlet to present this data to these communities, empowering those affected to advocate for themselves. Visualization becomes a tool that can educate the people, allowing them to inform each other, which ultimately helps inform decision-making. This develops a combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make a difference and allows for robust civic engagement and participation.

Citation:

Rifat Ara Proma, University of South Florida Matthew Sumpter, University of South Florida Humberto Lugo, CleanAirNow Elizabeth Friedman, Children’s Mercy,Kansas City Khandaker Tasnim Huq, University of South Florida Paul Rosen, University of South Florida

Abstract:

As cities continue to grow globally, air pollution is increasing at an alarming rate, causing a significant negative impact on public health. One way to affect the negative impact is to regulate the producers of such pollution through policy implementation and enforcement. CleanAirNowKC (CAN-KC) is an environmental justice organization based in Kansas City (KC), Kansas. As part of their organizational objectives, they have to date deployed nine PurpleAir air quality sensors in different locations about which the community has expressed concern. In this paper, we have implemented an interactive map that can help the community members to monitor air quality efficiently. The system also allows for reporting and tracking industrial emissions or toxic releases, which will further help identify major contributors to pollution. These resources can serve an important role as evidence that will assist in advocating for community-driven just policies to improve the air quality regulation in Kansas City.

Authors:

Rifat Ara Proma, University of South Florida Matthew Sumpter, University of South Florida Humberto Lugo, CleanAirNow Elizabeth Friedman, Children’s Mercy,Kansas City Khandaker Tasnim Huq, University of South Florida Paul Rosen, University of South Florida

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