Research Question: Do schools near freeways have worse air quality than schools farther away from freeways?

• Project Approach 1: Overlay maps of schools with maps of nearby freeways. Categorize schools as near or not near freeways. Compare air pollution averages between them.

• Project Approach 2: Overlay maps of schools with maps of nearby freeways. Determine distance from each school to nearest freeway. Correlate distance from freeway with air pollution averages.

Research Question: Is air quality worse in school parking lots than in other parts of schools?

• Project Approach: Overlay maps of schools with maps of nearby freeways. Categorize schools as near or not near freeways. Within each category, compare air pollution averages between monitors placed near parking lots vs. elsewhere.

Research Question: How does outdoor air quality compare between two regions of Oakland (North, East, West, Downtown, Hills)?

• Project Approach: Select two regions of Oakland to compare. East Oakland and the Hills are a strong example since they have historically shown very different air quality. Use monitor data to compare average pollution levels between the two regions. Compare within seasons to see if there are seasonal changes in disparities.

Research Question: Does air quality differ between schools with more trees and those with fewer trees?

• Project Approach 1: Use Google Maps or satellite imagery to estimate tree cover at different schools. Categorize schools as tree-heavy or tree-light. Compare air pollution averages between them.

• Project Approach 2: Use Google Maps or satellite imagery to estimate tree cover at different schools. Quantify the area of tree cover for each school. Correlate tree cover area with air pollution averages.