Hampton partners with CMU to monitor township air quality

Hampton has joined a Carnegie Mellon University-run program to monitor potential changes in township air pollution.

Air quality sensors were installed atop the community center along McCully Road to measure changes in particulates.

The sensors were free to the township through the Greater Pittsburgh Northwest Real-time Affordable Multi-Pollutant (RAMP) Network at CMU.

“By deploying these sensors, we have the ability to establish an air quality baseline and monitor that baseline by way of a monthly report issued by CMU,” council President Michael Peters said.

The RAMP sensors measure carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and fine particulates among others.

Since 2016, the program has deployed air quality sensors across Allegheny County. It provides neighborhood-level air pollution data and is among the largest long-term networks of low-cost pollutant sensors across the country.

Team leaders are Albert Presto, associate research professor at CMU, and R. Subramanian, a CMU research scientist.

Project partners include SenSevere and the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.

Peters said the localized data will become increasingly important when the Shell Cracker Plant in Beaver County is complete.

“They were installed to establish benchmark readings prior to the completion and operation of the new cracker plant,” township Manager Chris Lochner said.

Hampton council hosted its first-ever citizen town hall in 2019 to engage residents and hear their concerns and suggestions, Peters said.

The issue of air-quality monitoring in Hampton was a priority, he said.

“Hampton was proud to join the RAMP family, and we currently have two sensors located on the roof of the community center,” Peters said.