What are air quality monitoring stations?

Air quality monitoring stations, often referred to simply as air stations, have the primary task of monitoring the atmosphere and airborne pollutants. These stations are capable of collecting, measuring and analysing harmful substances in the air on a regular, continuous or timed basis.

In order to monitor air quality comprehensively, environmentally focused cities usually deploy multiple air stations. Each station is equipped with multi-parameter monitoring instruments capable of automatic continuous monitoring. These instruments automatically record monitoring data and provide critical environmental data through real-time analyses.

The establishment and operation of air stations provide important air quality information to environmental protection authorities, helping them to keep abreast of the pollution situation, assess air quality and take necessary measures to improve and protect the environment.

Given the vast geographical area of the country and the limitations of fixed monitoring sites, standard and small monitoring stations are inadequate for comprehensive monitoring of air quality in small areas. At the same time, the relatively high cost of setting up standard and small stations and the economic pressure to achieve gridded air quality monitoring have led to the emergence of gridded micro air monitoring stations.

Such micro-monitoring stations mainly use diffusive or pump-suction sampling methods and employ multi-sensor information fusion techniques for air quality analysis. A calibration system may also be integrated within the system to ensure data accuracy. Compared to large monitoring sites, micro-monitoring stations are more focused on capturing trends in air quality changes and perform an early warning function to help identify and respond to potential air quality problems in a timely manner.