The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) has recognized the Valley Air District with a Best Practice Award for its implementation of an Inventory Tracking System for Air Monitoring Operations. Designated annually, AAPCA’s Best Practices in Air Pollution Control highlight innovative programs, groundbreaking technology, and meritorious operations in the field of air pollution control. Of particular interest are activities that are directly transferrable to the operation of an air pollution control agency. This is the fourth time the District has won this prestigious award.
The District’s innovative tracking system enhances the efficiency, accuracy and consistency of the District’s monitoring network by ensuring that critical equipment and tools are properly tracked, maintained, and deployed. By improving operational reliability, the District continues to deliver real-time, evidence-based assessments of air quality conditions across the San Joaquin Valley.
Jon Klassen, Director of Air Quality Science for the Valley Air District, presented the District’s work to AAPCA’s 2025 Fall Business Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. During his presentation, Klassen highlighted how the inventory tracking system has transformed the District’s air monitoring operations by giving staff the tools and data necessary to effectively manage one of the largest air monitoring networks in the nation. These advancements support the Valley’s ongoing progress toward meeting federal air quality standards for multiple criteria pollutants.
“This system has significantly strengthened our ability to maintain a reliable and responsive monitoring network,” said Klassen. “By improving how we track, manage, and deploy air monitoring tools, we can continue delivering high-quality data that helps protect the health of Valley residents.”
A core element of the District’s recognized efforts is its inventory and asset tracking platform, built using a cloud-based platform that helps organizations track, manage, and organize their equipment, supplies, and assets in one centralized place. This tool enables real-time tracking of monitoring equipment, repair parts, and supplies across the network in an efficient way, ensuring resources are available, properly maintained, and quickly deployed when needed. Staff can scan QR codes to update equipment status, access calibration records, and schedule maintenance, while automated alerts help prevent low-stock shortages and missed recertifications.
The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern. For more information about the Valley Air District, visit valleyair.org or call the regional office in Modesto at 209-557-6400.
