Photometric Measurement of Ground-Level

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For more: http://www.extension.org/67676 Fugitive dust from confined livestock operations is a primary air quality issue associated with impaired visibility, nuisance odor, and other quality-of-life factors. Particulate matter has conventionally been measured using costly scientific instruments such as transmissometers, nephelometers, or tapered-element, oscillating microbalances (TEOMs). The use of digital imaging and automated data-acquisition systems has become a standard practice in some locations to track visibility conditions on roadways; however, the concept of using photometry to measure fugitive dust concentrations near confined livestock operations is relatively new. We have developed a photometric method to estimate path-averaged particulate matter (PM10) concentrations using digital SLR cameras and high-contrast visibility targets. Digital imaging, followed by automated image processing and interpretation, would be a plausible, cost-effective alternative for operators of confined livestock facilities to monitor on-site dust concentrations. We report on the development and ongoing evaluation of such a method for use by cattle feeders and open-lot dairy producers.

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Photometric Measurementof

Ground-Level Fugitive Dust Emissionsfrom

Open-Lot Animal Feeding Operations

S. L. M. Preece, B. W. Auvermann, T. Kwon, G. W. Marek, K. Heflin, K. J. BushTexas A&M AgriLife Research, Amarillo TX; University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth MN

Photo: J. Sweeten

Photo: S. Sakirkin

Photo: S. Preece

Photo: S. Preece

© 2009, Google Earth

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Contrast in Visually Assessed Dust Conditions

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Moderate Dust High DustLow Dust

Honing the Approach

• Sky glare• Polarized light• Wide-spectrum CCD• Dust on targets• Number of TEOMs relative to path-length• TEOM-associated errors• Image resolution• RGB to Grayscale conversion equation• Night Measurements

Sky Glare

Polarized Light

Wide Spectrum Camera

Dust on Targets

TEOM Data

• Number of TEOMs• Placement of TEOMs• R2 associated with TEOM data

Image Resolution / Path Length

RGB to Grayscale Conversion

I = (0.2989R) + (0.5870G) + (0.1140B)

Night

Automation

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support of USDA-CSREES under National Research Initiative grant number 2009-55112-05235.

DISCLAIMER

References to specific, commercial brand names in this paper are not exclusive of other, functionally equivalent brands or products and should not be construed as an endorsement of those brand names by Texas AgriLife Research or any of its research partners.

REFERENCES

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Kwon, T. M. 2004. Atmospheric visibility measurements using video cameras: relative visibility. University of Minnesota Duluth Report No. CTS 04-03. Report to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Springfield, VA.: National Technical Information Services.

Kwon, T. M. 2006. Video camera-based visibility measurement system. U. S. patent No. 7,016,045 B2.

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Wyatt, T. A., R. E. Slager, J. D. DeVasure, B. W. Auvermann, M. L. Mulhern, S. Von Essen, T. Mathisen, A. A. Floreani, and D. J. Romberger. 2007. Feedlot dust stimulation of interleukin-6 and -8 requires protein kinase Cε in human bronchial epithelial cells. American Journal of Physiology. Lung, Cellular, and Molecular Physiology. 293(5):L1163-L1170.