Advancing Intelligent Resilience with Wildfire-Informed Sensing for Agriculture (AIRWISE) combines technology, education, and community partnerships to address the growing impact of wildfire smoke on agricultural regions. Led by UC Santa Cruz Assistant Professor Javier González-Rocha, the initiative integrates drones, IoT air quality sensors, and satellite data to monitor smoke and pollution, support public health, and strengthen climate resilience.
Building on González-Rocha’s research as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Riverside, AIRWISE focuses on disparities in Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, where many residents—especially farmworkers—are exposed to air pollutants from pesticides and frequent wildfires.
Following a major 2025 battery plant fire in Moss Landing, AIRWISE deployed about 25 new air quality sensors near schools in the North Monterey County and Pajaro Valley Unified School Districts. These sensors use color-coded lights to display real-time conditions, helping community members and school staff make informed decisions during pollution or wildfire events.
The team is also exploring inclusive ways to share air quality data, recognizing that online dashboards aren’t always accessible for residents with limited internet or English proficiency. Alongside this work, González-Rocha and his student research team use drones to collect vertical air measurements, revealing that pollution levels peak before sunrise—when many agricultural laborers begin their workday.
Collaborations with Professors Obraczka, Bo Yang, and Matt Sparke are expanding AIRWISE’s reach: combining drone and sensor data through IoT networks, integrating local readings with satellite imagery for regional smoke tracking, and advancing fire-informed resilience education centered on health equity.
By connecting advanced sensing tools with community engagement and hands-on student learning, AIRWISE empowers agricultural communities to better understand, prepare for, and respond to air quality challenges in a changing climate.