Mobile Air Monitoring Laboratory ("The MAML")
This specially equipped vehicle can provide immediate air quality "snapshots" on location.
The 8.2 metre-long unit carries air sampling equipment and a Global Positioning System, allowing it to sample at specified time or distance intervals, and analyze samples immediately.
The vehicle runs with minimum emissions (its exhaust system is filtered for cleaner-running) and power for its instruments comes from two on-board, natural gas-fired generators equipped with exhaust scrubbers.
On the road about 100 days a year, the vehicle can obtain air quality data from locations that lack permanent monitoring stations, respond to air quality concerns from Alberta communities and explore potential sites for Alberta's permanent monitoring network.
On-board GPS can pinpoint the vehicle's position to within 100 m.
Alberta Environment is able to monitor air quality anywhere in Alberta accessible from a road through the use of its Mobile Air Monitoring Laboratory (MAML). The MAML responds to air quality concerns from a community and identifies potential problem areas.
