Airpointer and E-BAM
The District has a robust air monitoring network that measures ambient air quality for multiple pollutants at stationary locations throughout the County. However, specific incidents or events may call for deployment of a portable air monitor. Examples include citizen complaints focused in certain areas, accidental releases, prescribed burns, and natural disasters.
Airpointer
The District has identified a specialized trailer-mounted system called the AirPointer (pictured, left) that measures:
- Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10 ) simultaneously
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) detectable down to 1 part per billion
- Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX)
- Ozone
- Meteorological conditions (wind, temperature)
The system can be deployed quickly to a secure location with power and has the ability to store and transmit data to the District in real-time. Interested in learning more? Watch the video below to find out more about the Airpointer and see here for the board presentation on the Airpointer.
E-BAM
Environmental Beta Attenuation Monitors (E-BAMs) (pictured, right) are effective, accurate, and easy to operate portable particulate monitors for measuring particulate matter (PM2.5 or PM10) emitted from short-term events.
Primarily used for:
- Smoke impacts from prescribed burns and wildfires
- Short-term investigations and studies (e.g. dust)
The data is recorded on an hourly basis and is transmitted to the District’s data acquisition system via a cell modem.
For more information, please contact our Public Information Officer, Lyz Hoffman, at [email protected] or call (805) 961-8800.
