Urban Heat and Air Quality Campaign: Tacoma and Pierce County (2018)

Figure 2: Air quality sensor mounted to a wall.

Figure 1: Monitoring equipment mounted to vehicle

During the summer of 2018, the Sustaining Urban Places Research (SUPR) Lab at Portland State University is seeking volunteers toparticipate an urban heat and air quality campaign in Tacoma and Pierce County. The volunteers will participate in two aspects of the campaign: (1) drive in a pre-determined area with monitoring equipment mounted on their individual vehicles (Figure 1) and for one-hour periods (6-7am; 3-4pm, and 7-8pm) on a selected day in August (TBD); and (2) install an air quality sensor at their residence from August, 2018 through February, 2019. The one-day driving event will need to occur during a heat wave, which we define as a high-temperature that is within the 90thpercentile of historical (30-year) records. We anticipate informing volunteers about the heat campaign within one week before beginning the traverses. For mounting the air quality monitors, we will identify a set of ‘ideal locations’in Tacoma/Pierce County -- stratified by residential density –where we will solicit potential volunteers. Once locations and volunteers are identified, we will provide the air quality monitoring sensor (Figure 2), and instructions for mounting the system. The sensors are meant to placed outside and in a location with a power outlet, approximately 6 to 8 feet above the ground, and in range of a wifi.

Analysis and Outputs

Figure 3: Temporal variation in urban heat in Portland, Oregon –morning (6am) and evening (7m) based on field campaigns.

Subsequent to the collection of temperature and air quality data, we will work with regional organizations –perhaps those participating in the campaign –to identify specific landscape factors that help to explain spatial and temporal variation in these two indicators. To complete these analyses we will require a set of land use and land cover data, including spatially explicit descriptions of tax lots, roads, buildings, vegetation, and demographics(ideally recently-acquired Light Detection and Radar, LiDAR dataset). The integration of these data provides the basis for developing an online mapping tool that includes information that is relevant to the potential users. We have conducted similar analyses for several cities, including Portland, Oregon (Figure 3), including the development of online platforms that are currently employed by regional organizations (www.climatecope.org). We look forward to working with you and other organizations in the region.

Urban Heat and Air Quality Campaign: Tacoma and Pierce County (2018)

Figure 2: Air quality sensor mounted to a wall.

Figure 1: Monitoring equipment mounted to vehicle

During the summer of 2018, the Sustaining Urban Places Research (SUPR) Lab at Portland State University is seeking volunteers toparticipate an urban heat and air quality campaign in Tacoma and Pierce County. The volunteers will participate in two aspects of the campaign: (1) drive in a pre-determined area with monitoring equipment mounted on their individual vehicles (Figure 1) and for one-hour periods (6-7am; 3-4pm, and 7-8pm) on a selected day in August (TBD); and (2) install an air quality sensor at their residence from August, 2018 through February, 2019. The one-day driving event will need to occur during a heat wave, which we define as a high-temperature that is within the 90thpercentile of historical (30-year) records. We anticipate informing volunteers about the heat campaign within one week before beginning the traverses. For mounting the air quality monitors, we will identify a set of ‘ideal locations’in Tacoma/Pierce County -- stratified by residential density –where we will solicit potential volunteers. Once locations and volunteers are identified, we will provide the air quality monitoring sensor (Figure 2), and instructions for mounting the system. The sensors are meant to placed outside and in a location with a power outlet, approximately 6 to 8 feet above the ground, and in range of a wifi.

Analysis and Outputs

Figure 3: Temporal variation in urban heat in Portland, Oregon –morning (6am) and evening (7m) based on field campaigns.

Subsequent to the collection of temperature and air quality data, we will work with regional organizations –perhaps those participating in the campaign –to identify specific landscape factors that help to explain spatial and temporal variation in these two indicators. To complete these analyses we will require a set of land use and land cover data, including spatially explicit descriptions of tax lots, roads, buildings, vegetation, and demographics(ideally recently-acquired Light Detection and Radar, LiDAR dataset). The integration of these data provides the basis for developing an online mapping tool that includes information that is relevant to the potential users. We have conducted similar analyses for several cities, including Portland, Oregon (Figure 3), including the development of online platforms that are currently employed by regional organizations (www.climatecope.org). We look forward to working with you and other organizations in the region.