Calibration of Low-Cost Air Quality Monitors
Host Institution: Rwanda Environment Management Authority.
Location:
Kigali City, Gasabo District,
Inyota House, near UK Embassy,
KG 7 AVE, P.O. Box 7436 Kigali, Rwanda,
Email: info@rema.gov.rw | Website: www.rema.gov.rw.
Supervisors:
(1) Mugabo Modeste,
Air Pollution Monitoring, Sector Specialist,
Rwanda Environment Management Authority,
Email: engmumo@gmail.com,
Cell: Phone/Whatsapp: 0788447037;
(2) Dr. Jimmy GASORE,
University of Rwanda,
Lecturer, Atmospheric Sciences,
Email: jimmy.gasore@gmail.com,
Cell: Phone/Whatsapp: +250 (0) 788694355,
Skype: jimmygasore.
Project Description
The Rwanda Air Quality and Climate Change Monitoring project, is a joint project between the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC). The Key objectives of the project are:
- To establish an air quality monitoring system in the country to continuously monitor and report air quality index around the country
- To enhance the existing climate observatory (MINEDUC) in order to improve the understanding of local emissions related to climate change
- To build capacity of Rwandan scientists and partner institutions staffs to answer air quality and climate related issues in Rwanda
- To regularly produce reports and scientific publications and policy guidance related to air quality and greenhouse gases to support national sustainable development
These monitors are dispatched across the country and one reference station installed in Kigali that measure ozone, particulates, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. In addition, there are black carbon and aerosol mass spectrometer measured in Kigali. Activities include instruments operation, maintenance and calibration, time series analysis, correlation and linking air pollutants levels with satellite, meteorological data and air quality models.
The intern’s work will focus on calibrating eight low cost air quality monitors located at eight rural location across the country using the data from air quality reference station. The intern will be assisted with the Sector Specialist for air quality project and the air quality project Technical Assistant.
Intern responsibilities and expected outcomes
The Real-Time Affordable Multi-Pollutant Sensors (RAMPs) have been purchased and installed at eight rural locations across the country. The sensors have been initially calibrated using “Random-Forest” a machine-learning-based calibration model.
The Air quality project has also acquired one research grade reference station that will be used to continuously calibrate the low-cost sensors.
The responsibility of this internship is to validated the calibration of RAMPS and make necessary adjustment so that the RAMPs data reflect actual levels of pollutants.
Applications for this internship should be submitted via the online application system, stating clearly the title of the internship.
Deadline for applications: March 29th, 2019 – 11:59 PM (EAT).
Any inquiries about these internships should be sent to:
aims-ms4cr.internship@nexteinstein.org.