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Fracking News

Use your smart phone to sample fracking air

By

A new, low-cost air monitoring system.

Mr. Heimbinder, 36, who lives in Park Slope and runs a nonprofit organization called HabitatMap, is a pollution hunter. Armed with a portable sensor attached with Velcro to his biceps, he uses his smartphone to record minuscule fluctuations in air quality. The system, known asAirCasting, allows him to create and share online color-coded maps of neighborhood air quality. (Hardware components cost as little as $180 — the whole thing is about the size of three smartphones.)

This company is receiving calls from people in the fracking zone who are interested in measuring methane and H2S gas.

NY Times: Microsampling Air Pollution (with VIDEO)
By PETER ANDREY SMITH and MAYETA CLARK
JUNE 3, 2013

 

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.

Comments

  1. Andy Mechling says

    I am always encouraged to see community-based air monitoring projects; but it seems that the innovative part of this particular project has to do with smart phone mapping, rather than any type of meaningful air toxics monitoring; and I think it is a shame that the reporting doesn’t reflect this.
    Color-coded mapping is neato. Personally, I would settle for some solid concentation data in black-and-white for the air toxics of most concern. I dont think this gets us any closer to that.
    The data needs to come first. This will require appropriate instrumentation. A smart phone won’t cut it. Let’smove on.

    • TXsharon says

      Agreed!

      We already have ample proof that dangerous toxins are escaping into our air, migrating into our water and spoiling our land. The time for monitoring is passed. I want action.

  2. Texas Widow says

    The TCEQ said the tanks near me aren’t releasing anything bad. I believe them.

    .

    (HaHa. A little Wednesday sarcasm) 😀

  3. Anymous says

    This is interesting — but, cell phones don’t work very well in Booger County. Also, I agree with Andy above. We already know a lot of crap is in the air, water and on the land–but, nobody is going to do anything about it in Tx. All we can do is RUN.