Some New York City communities experience higher levels of air pollution than others. The long-term solution is to reduce the sources of emissions through the electrification of transportation and buildings, but this will take many years of incremental progress. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is interested in exploring the improvement of air quality conditions in communities through innovative interventions.
Opportunity: Identified through a 2019 Open Innovation Challenge, Netherlands-based Static Air manufactures particulate matter reduction systems that attract PM2.5 – PM10 and pull it from the air. Clarity, a California-based company, manufactures solar-powered air quality monitors that detect particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Together, the two technologies will be deployed at Walter Reed Public School 009 In Maspeth Queens to obtain hyperlocal air quality data through Clarity’s air quality monitors and to measure the efficacy of Static Air’s particulate matter reduction system.
Methodology: Static Air will provide three pole-mounted Pamares units to install in and around Walter Reed PS 009 for six months. The Pamares wires emit a positive charge, ionizing fine dust and particulate matter that is attracted to and deposited on the grounded back plates.
Clarity will provide nine pole-mounted air quality monitoring devices (Node-S) to install in and around Walter Reed Public School 009 for seven months. The Node-S monitors will be installed one month before the Pamares units from Static Air to collect “before” air quality data. Then, the Pamares units will be installed, and the Node-S monitors will collect “after” air quality data.
The change in local air quality will be used to determine the efficacy of Static Air’s technology, focusing on PM2.5. To validate the effectiveness of the Clarity Node-S monitors, data from the Node-S will be compared to to nearby Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) air quality monitors.
Location: Walter Reed Public School 009 and surrounding streets
Signage: To empower communities with information and foster transparency, signs detailing what the hardware is doing in the public spaces are posted in the pilot area.
Project Timeframe: October 2023 – October 2024
| Stakeholders |
| Static Air |
| Clarity |
| Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) |
| Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) |
| Project Category |
| Air Quality |