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Best practices for deploying and maintaining a low-cost PM2.5 sensor network

Strategically placed sensors can monitor air pollution and provide a detailed picture of air quality and its variability within a region. Low-cost sensors (LCSs) that measure PM2.5 are becoming increasingly popular because of their low cost, ease of use, and portability. However, the portability and low cost come with trade-offs on data quality, reliability, and shelf life. The typical shelf life of LCSs is around a year to two. Also, the raw data from these LCSs need to be calibrated. This report documents the best practices for establishing and maintaining an LCS network.