Project Challenge
Air pollution is a pressing national priority affecting many communities across the United States. In Pittsburgh, the Hazelwood neighborhood faces persistent air quality challenges and broader environmental burdens. Currently, not only do residents face a gap in having access to hyper-local data but also face barriers in access to tools to in interpret the data, and to understand how it aligns with their experiences with air quality.
Community-driven socio-technical infrastructure for data-driven air quality advocacy
Hazelwood, Pittsburgh, PA
NSF Award ID: 2431262
PI: Rosta, Farzan, University of Pittsburgh
2024 Civic Innovation Challenge
Pilot Vision
- Progress during �planning phase: �Cataloguing community �assets and initiatives; �Distributing air purifiers; �Engaging with community members ; Investing in air quality monitoring infrastructure
- Assemble an integrated portfolio of community efforts to build collective capacity to interpret & experiment with their air quality data.
- Support organizations embedded in the community to leverage this socio-technical infrastructure to advocate for larger-scale community-driven policy changes.
Civic Partners:
- Hazelwood Initiative
- Center of Life
- Tiffany Taulton
- Environmental Health Project
- Breathe Project
Research Partners:
- Amy Babay, School of Computing & Information, Pitt
- Khirsten Scott, School of Education, Pitt
- Patrick Shirey, School of Arts & Sciences, Pitt
- Tina Ndoh, School of Public Health, Pitt
- Erin Walker, School of Computing & Information, Pitt
Research Questions
- What infrastructure is �needed to support a �sustainable social �network of people and �sensors to support �data-driven community �advocacy and increased �community capacity �related to data �collection and data �interpretation?
- How does the design of the air quality monitors and the information communicated impact environmental health literacy, long-term use of the monitors, and the connection to advocacy?
- What are the implications of participation in the project in terms of increased community’ collective efficacy related to the use of environmental data towards positive changes?
Miroboard interface used for discussion in planning phase
Community responses to air quality activities priorities