South Coast AQMD home

Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center


Who are we?

The Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC) is a program established by the South Coast Air Quality Management District to inform the public about the real-world capabilities of commercially available air quality sensors. AQ-SPEC provides thorough characterizations of commercially available air quality sensors in ambient (field) and laboratory environments and informs the public on best practices for effective deployment of sensors.

What do we do?
Evaluations
 


Eval_criteria

Evaluation reports for sensors measuring particles and gas pollutants (for example: CO, NO2, O3, SO2, VOC). Click here for more.
Sensor List
 


Learn more about the sensor details and evaluation reports for all sensors evaluated at AQ-SPEC to date. Click here for more.
Sensor Library
 

sensor_library

AQ-SPEC is working with communities to expand our sensor loan library. Click here for more.
Submit a Sensor



submit_a_sensor

Find out more about sensor evaluation protocols and procedure to submit a sensor for evaluation. Click here for more.
Special Projects



special_projects

Find out more about other significant projects undertaken by AQ-SPEC. Click here for more.
Publications



publish-icon

Here, you can find articles published by the AQ-SPEC team in scientific journals. Click here for more.
Featured Resources
sensorguidebook

 

Community in Action: A Comprehensive
Guidebook on Air Quality Sensors

Check out our air sensor guidebook on air quality project planning, operating air quality sensors, and understanding the data.

Click here for more.
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español.

Mira Loma Sensor Shelter
 
Community Air Quality
Co-location Shelter

A sensor co-location shelter is available at South Coast AQMD's Mira Loma Van Buren air monitoring station for interested parties.

Click here to learn more.

 
More Information
WHY WAS AQ-SPEC CREATED?

AQ-SPEC was established in 2014 with the goal of informing the public on the real-world capabilities of commercially available "low-cost" air quality sensors by providing a thorough characterization of these sensors in field and laboratory environments.

WHAT SENSORS
DO WE TEST?

The AQ-SPEC program focuses on testing lower-cost, commercially available air quality sensors capable of measuring pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, O3, CO, NO, NO2, VOC, black carbon, ultrafine particles, etc.

HOW DO I
LEARN MORE?

Visit our Sensor Evaluation Information page to learn more about how we evaluate air quality sensor performance. Check out our FAQ page and for further inquiries, contact us here.

News and Updates
Sensirion SEN66 - Laboratory Evaluation Report (September 3, 2026)
New laboratory evaluation report for the Sensirion SEN66 sensor measuring volatile organic compounds (VOC) is now available. 
AQ-SPEC Advisory Board (September 2, 2026)
We are pleased to announce the new and returning members to the AQ-SPEC Advisory Board! 
AQ-SPEC Sensor Results Summary Table Update (September 2, 2026)
The AQ-SPEC Sensor Results Summary Table has been updated with 2026 product pricing, availability status, ability to hide discontinued products, and ability to export the summary table as an Excel file. 

Newsletter Sign Up

Periodic newsletter updates via Email on a variety of air quality-related topics
Submit