Community Monitoring of Aviation Air Pollution

Project Partner: Tufts University School of Engineering & Hanscom Field Advisory Committee, Spring 2024

Project Summary: Airports are a significant source of aviation-related emissions that can adversely impact air quality in downwind communities. There is a proposed project to expand hangar space at Hanscom Airport (Bedford, Massachusetts) and the surrounding communities are concerned about the potential impacts of increased airport activity.

Sean partnered jointly with Tufts University School of Engineering and the Hanscom Field Advisory Committee to design and conduct a study to better understand the impacts of aviation emissions on air pollution in near-airport areas of the towns surrounding Hanscom Airport. He deployed equipment to monitor air pollution levels and analyzed the data to quantify the air quality impacts of Hanscom Airport.

Sean collated the results of the study into a report, which was shared with stakeholders in public community meetings, and ultimately the findings were used to submit a public comment on the developer’s environmental impact report. Secretary Rebecca Tepper (Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs) reviewed the public comments and found that the developer’s impact report does not adequately and properly comply with regulations, requiring additional public disclosures on the impacts of the proposed project.

Barcharts showing air pollution levels under different environmental conditions. The figure shows that the highest levels occur when the wind direction positions the site downwind of the airport during daytime hours with landing and takeoff activity at the airport.

 

Project Deliverables:

  • Creation of a report detailing the impacts of aviation emissions on air pollution
  • Presentation of findings at several public community and stakeholder meetings
  • Submission of a public comment on the project developer’s environmental impact report

See Sean’s URBAN Internship lightning talk here.

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