Innovative Methodologies and Technologies for Air Quality Monitoring

This thesis concerns the study, research and application of advanced techniques for measuring gaseous pollutants in advanced monitoring systems for the protection of the environment and human health. The general objective is to carry out theoretical and applied research on environmental sensing with new technologies able to operate in advanced monitoring networks. These topics are strictly pertinent to the PhD in Technological Innovation Engineering, offering an insight into the field of environmental, industrial and technological innovation engineering, with particular reference to quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) technologies. Among the environmental parameters measured there are the so-called Green House Gases (GHGs), climate-altering gases, mainly responsible for the ongoing climate change. This thesis was written starting with an initial period in which the lessons of the PhD courses were followed and extensive bibliographic research was carried out. Subsequently, the experimental part was mainly carried out in the laboratories of the Physics Department of the Polytechnic of Bari, at the forefront in the study and development of environmental sensors.