Initiatives

The Environmental Monitoring Program is an initiative of the Caribbean Collaborative Action Network (CCAN) that supports schools, municipalities, and communities in Puerto Rico in collecting locally relevant information about extreme heat, air quality, and other environmental conditions. The program generates data that can help participating institutions identify areas of greater exposure, evaluate environmental conditions, and develop informed adaptation and risk-reduction strategies.

The program uses environmental sensors installed in classrooms, hallways, outdoor spaces, libraries, and other community locations. Blue Maestro sensors measure temperature, relative humidity, and dew point, while PurpleAir sensors provide information on air quality, temperature, humidity, and volatile organic compounds. The data collected can be used to identify critical hours, indoor and outdoor hotspots, ventilation needs, and areas where low-cost interventions, such as shade, improved airflow, hydration stations, or changes to activity schedules, may reduce exposure.

The program also incorporates the Tempest weather station, provided by CARICOOS, to monitor weather conditions and patterns. This all-in-one instrument contains no moving parts, making it highly resistant to coastal environmental conditions. This collaboration is carried out in partnership with the Puerto Rico Sailing Federation and the Municipality of Toa Baja.

Customized for Punta Salinas, the weather station allows users to monitor weather variables in real time through a mobile or web application. The instrument provides real-time information on wind speed and direction, air temperature, accumulated precipitation, UV index, and lightning distance.

Participating schools, municipalities, and communities are engaged throughout the monitoring process through coordination meetings, educational visits, and the collaborative installation of sensors. Students, teachers, school personnel, municipal staff, researchers, and community partners can use the program as a practical tool for environmental education, STEM learning, citizen science, and evidence-based decision-making.

The Environmental Monitoring Program strengthens local capacity to understand environmental risks and translates scientific information into actionable recommendations for schools, municipalities, government agencies, and communities. The initiative is currently active in multiple locations, with additional schools and organizations expressing interest in joining and expanding the monitoring network throughout Puerto Rico.

Current Collaborators: Puerto Rico Department of Education, Autonomous Municipality of Caguas, El Puente Inc., La Maraña Inc., Urbe a Pie, Island Corps., Municipality of Toa Baja

Email: heatmonitoringschools@gmail.com

Sensor Network