A Multidisciplinary Approach to Evaluating Indoor Air Quality in University Classrooms
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Westgate, Sabrina
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Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) can significantly impact our health, cognition, and well-being. As people spend a substantial portion of their time indoors in settings such as a university classroom, it is essential to create building design and usage guidelines informed by data-driven assessments of IAQ. Towards this end, in-situ air quality monitoring (2020-2023) across the Georgia Institute of Technology was performed using a network of low-cost sensors (LCS) (QuantAQ MODULAIR and MODULAIR-PM) that measured particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), CO2, temperature, and relative humidity. Complimentary research-grade instrumentation, including a Vocus Proton-Transfer-Reactor Mass Spectrometer to measure volatile organic compounds (VOC), was deployed during intensive field campaigns. This research is one of the first to evaluate MODULAIR-PM sensor performance, and introduces a novel and easily reproducible method for evaluating IAQ by estimating ventilation rates using LCS PM measurements. This work also implements an innovative use of machine learning to quantitatively compare the impact of building design features, outdoor air, and indoor aerosol sources on IAQ. Finally, VOC measurements during lectures and exams revealed increased levels of human emitted VOC in the air during exams, suggesting that psychological stress impacts indoor air composition. This thesis provides actionable insights into both evaluating and mitigating air pollutant exposure in university settings, with broader implications for public health.
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2024-12-05
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Dissertation (PhD)