To effectively monitor air quality and minimize negative impacts from an increasing population, the city should implement the following three procedures:
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Use sensors in a variety of locations around the city - This ensures that air quality data is representative of different areas, capturing variability due to traffic, industrial areas, parks, and residential zones.
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Compare collected data to long-term baseline levels of key pollutants - This allows city officials to understand trends and assess whether air quality is worsening or improving over time compared to historical data.
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Collect data systematically at the same times of day and from the same locations - Consistency in data collection helps in identifying patterns, evaluating the impact of daily activities and environmental changes, and facilitates reliable analysis of the air quality trends.
By following these procedures, the city can establish a comprehensive air quality monitoring system that provides essential data for informed decision-making.