Community monitoring · Phase one
Build a public record of local particulate patterns.
The ClawFiles is developing a small community air-monitoring pilot in southeastern Massachusetts. The aim is to collect consistent, documented particulate readings, publish the method and limitations, and decide whether the pattern supports further professional or regulatory follow-up.
Status · In development—protocol, partnerships, and funding are being assembled. No fundraiser or participant recruitment is open yet.
What it can do
Document particulate patterns over time.
Community-grade air sensors can estimate the particulate concentrations they are designed to report, commonly including fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. Used with a written plan and appropriate quality checks, they can help show when readings change, whether patterns repeat, and where stronger follow-up may be warranted.
Project commitments
The method will be visible before the conclusion.
- Written protocol.Purpose, roles, equipment selection, site-selection criteria, data handling, privacy, and publication rules are set before active collection.
- Equipment checks.Side-by-side checks, setup conditions, known limitations, and any correction method are documented.
- Operational record.Maintenance, downtime, missing data, weather context, and quality-control decisions stay with the dataset.
- Participant protection.Residents and private-property locations are not turned into public map pins.
- Honest publication.Results, uncertainty, and limitations are reported whether or not they support the concern that prompted the project.
- Open correction.Material errors in the public method or report are corrected and dated.
Project stages
Protocol before placement.
- 01Protocol and review
Define the question, select appropriate equipment, establish consent and privacy procedures, and seek qualified technical input.
- 02Equipment checks
Document side-by-side operation, setup conditions, known instrument limits, and any correction method before field use.
- 03Pilot collection
Collect readings at privately selected sites while logging maintenance, environmental conditions, downtime, and quality-control information.
- 04Public report
Publish a plain-language summary, methods, limitations, quality notes, generalized geographic context, and a recommendation on whether professional sampling is warranted.
Funding and accountability
No donation button before the budget is real.
Before donations are accepted, the project will publish a line-item goal covering planned equipment and ownership, installation and operating costs, data management, technical consultation, processing fees, contingency, any paid coordination or reporting, and the treatment of unused funds.
Coordination time, if compensated, will appear as its own line—not as “miscellaneous.” Air-project money will not be used for private-well testing or unrelated ClawFiles expenses without a new, clearly disclosed funding decision.
Participate or partner
Start with town-level context only.
Residents may request updates. Air-quality professionals, environmental scientists, laboratories, industrial-hygiene professionals, community organizations, and potential fiscal sponsors may offer technical or organizational help.
Do not send an exact address, medical information, source identity, candidate site, or sensitive evidence in the first message.
Contact the air project