Inventing a Quicker and Smaller Tool to Measure Air Quality

Co PIs: Dr. Shane Murphy and Dr. Matthew Burkhart

Project Name: Commercial Photoacoustic Absorption Spectrometer

Graduate Stduent: Max Appelbaum

Measuring aerosols in the air is critical as aerosols impact human health and the weather. Current measurement techniques are slow and cumbersome. This project focuses on developing a low-cost laser and data acquisition systems to make the aerosol detection faster, more accurate, and applicable in different environments.

How this research affects the public

Company Partner

Problem

Tiny particles in the air, like dust and smoke, affect our health and the weather. Current tools to measure them are big and slow. 

Solution/Product

You can't fix what you can't measure—we are making air quality monitoring precise and portable. This project is building a smaller, laser-based tool that can accurately measure these particles in real-time to help track pollution and climate change.

Wyoming Impact

More effective air monitoring systems will enable accurate and timely health warnings and tracking of particulate matter throughout the state.

company partner:

Handix Scientific