Long - Term, High - Resolution Urban Aerosol Database for Reseach, Education and Outreach Project

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April 5. 2023 Wednesday - Baltimore: Morgan State University’s faculty, Dr. Xiaowen Li and co - PI Dr. Kofi Nyarko have been granted the funding for the creation of a Long Term, High Resolution, Urban Aerosol Database for Research, Education, and Outreach database. The database combines the artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) expertise and aerosol science research capability at Morgan State University, which serves as  the lead institution, with collaboration and support from two local universities, Howard and UMBC, along with subject matter experts at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, to produce a targeted, no-gap, longterm, high-resolution, open-access, and user-friendly database of both the Aerosol Optical Depths and PM2.5 surface concentrations, focusing on the Baltimore-Washington area. 

The proposed research focuses on aerosol data analysis and is related to the goal and objectives of the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). MUREP DEAP  funding is administered through NASA's Office of STEM Engagement. Through MUREP, NASA provides financial assistance via competitive awards to Minority Serving Institutions. Awards establish Data Science Institutes, also known as DEAP institutes, led by PBIs and HBCUs, for data-intensive research in science and engineering that can accelerate discovery and innovation in a broad array of NASA Science Mission Directorate research domains. The DEAP Institutes will lead innovation by closely collaborating with NASA mentors for harnessing diverse data sources and developing and applying new methodologies, technologies, and infrastructure for data management and analysis research. The long-term, high-resolution urban aerosol database has the potential to help with urban air quality predictions and solutions. It uses data science to stitch 12 satellite aerosol optical depth observations with surface PM2.5

In addition to enhancing aerosol scientific research, the database will also be used in both classroom teaching and scientific outreach, accompanied by online tools and educational materials. The database will be shared with a larger community along with relevant courses and training materials for personnel, students, collaborators, and researchers involved. Both Morgan State and Howard Universities have close ties with inner city communities who could be vulnerable to urban air pollution.