Considerations in Design of Air Monitoring Network

Air monitoring programs at power plants are essential for evaluating the extent of air pollution and for assessing the value of such variables as precipitator efficiency, stack height, and type of fuel. The establishment of a successful program requires that a planned approach be used in selecting the number and location of sampling stations. Prevailing wind direction, population density, and unusual meteorological conditions must all be carefully considered. Portable and permanent stations each have a place in a well-planned monitoring program. Also, instruments and procedures yielding both cumulative and continuous information can be useful. Capital costs will influence the final size of the program. Manpower requirements can be extensive, since considerable time is required to collect and interpret data, make chemical analyses and to repair equipment and instruments. A large amount of information is collected in a typical program. Certain methods are available for presenting and summarizing this data in a clear and concise manner.