Design of Monitor Networks to Meet Multiple Criteria

For most monitoring networks, demonstration of compliance with ambient air quality standards is only one of many interrelated purposes served. The network also may be needed (1) to assess current air quality, (2) to assess regional background air quality, (3) to determine individual source “culpability,” (4) to validate or calibrate a particular dispersion model, (5) to assess effectiveness of a control strategy, or (6) to determine the risk of damage to certain critical or sensitive receptors. Monitoring to support compliance with Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations is now also an important issue for many new sources. The same network may have to perform many of these functions for several pollutants that have different source locations and different characteristic averaging times. This paper presents a method for systematically addressing each of these concerns. The method includes use of a statistical computer model, MONITOR. This model provides quantitative estimates of relative probabilities in order to assess whether a particular network design will meet each of these criteria. A sample application of the method is provided.