Research Topic
One of my favorite things about arriving back to school in Oregon is the smell of the air when I step off the plane at the Eugene Airport. There is something so sweet about the way the air smells out here in the countryside; it truly is unlike anywhere else I have ever traveled. That being said, the air quickly looses its sweet smell the closer you get to downtown Eugene. According to the Eugene Air Quality Index, this is not just a personal anecdote. In the city, the short-term particle pollution (referred to as PM2.5) is at an average elevated level of 6.2 PM2.5 days per year, nearly double the set federal standard (which runs around 3.2 PM2.5 unhealthy days per year).
While it is hard to pin-point exactly where the air pollution in Eugene city center is stemming from, likely sources include emissions from cars and local industry, wood burning, dust, pesticides from farmland, and pollen, among many other viable sources. Interestingly, the highest level of air pollution is seen in November and December, but late summer and early fall also have elevated levels due to fire season. Sadly, the city of Eugene is rated #24 in worst air quality in the United States.
With such beauty and natural forests around Eugene, it is a shame that the air quality downtown is so poor. I’d like to investigate ways to bring better air quality to the heart of Eugene, and bring back the sweet-smelling air to the city!
right. Rather than focusing on the cause what if we can start to analyze what in the public and private spaces at the scale of building locations could filter or impact air quality. Think sources and sensitivities?
look at a building. What would help filter in a smoke event? operable windows? yes or no? amount of opening? orientation? distance to traffic lane? number of lanes in front of location? presence of trees? types of shops – those that might contribute and those that might have sensitive inhabitants like children?
the point is to then look at what urban design qualities, in the public right-of-way and in the private shop spaces would impact human experience.
we are getting ahead but ultimately you could design an air quality shelter for anyone, adaptive elements for existing storefronts, filtering elements like vegetation. BUT we begin with analysis.
also keep in mind that we are NOT in a period of high PM pollution like wildfire season. Thats ok. just keep that in mind. and focus on other differences in the areas we will measure.
i have ananometers too. And PM sensors relate to humidity. DHT 22 sensors.
good start. keep at the research part. ALSO think about behavioral policies that could be explained to different locations – when to open and close windows. Strategies for retrofits like facades. AND pushing out information to people…sensors in public space, situated technologies that show the information, push to website and app designs.
https://blogs.uoregon.edu/barcelona2022/category/08d-adv-tech/