Development of low-cost, portable, and low-power devices for monitoring airborne pollutants is a crucial step towards developing improved air quality models and better quantitating the health effects of human and animal exposure. This review article summarizes recent developments in the field within the context of the establishment/expansion of high spatial and temporal resolution air quality monitoring networks. Current ‘crowd-sourced’ monitoring efforts are summarized, and recent advances in chemical sensors required for these networks are described. No ‘perfect’ sensing platform, that meets the requirements of low-cost, portability, selectivity, and sensitivity has yet been achieved. This highlights the need for investment in the fundamental analytical chemistry of the sensing platforms required to achieve such ‘smart-cities.’ Such investment should include the development of new sensor technologies, and provide for calibration and performance validation for systems enacted. In addition to summarizing the current state-of-the-art, reflections on future needs are also offered.

开发低成本，便携式和低功率的设备来监测空气中的污染物，是开发改进的空气质量模型并更好地量化人类和动物暴露对健康的影响的关键一步。这篇综述文章总结了在建立/扩展高时空分辨率空气质量监测网络的背景下该领域的最新发展。总结了当前“众包”监测工作，并描述了这些网络所需的化学传感器的最新进展。尚未实现满足低成本，便携性，选择性和灵敏度要求的“完美”传感平台。这凸显了对实现此类“智能城市”所需的传感平台的基础分析化学进行投资的需求。此类投资应包括开发新的传感器技术，并为所制定的系统提供校准和性能验证。除了总结当前的最新技术水平，还提供对未来需求的思考。