Landfill gas surface monitor and methods

A system for monitoring gas emissions within a geographic area comprising:

• a handheld device having:
• a location detecting component configured to determine a geographic location of the handheld device as the handheld device is transported within the geographic area;
• a display for displaying a map of the geographic area to a user;
• and
• a communication component configured to communicate, with an external device, information about the determined geographic locations and air samples measured within the geographical area;
• and
• an emission-detecting device separate from the handheld device and wirelessly coupled therewith so as to communicate information to the handheld device, the emission-detecting device being configured to sample surrounding air in a first mode of operation as the emission-detecting device and handheld device are transported within the geographic area along a predetermined path so as to detect a quantity of one or more gases;
• wherein the handheld device further comprises a mode changing component that, upon actuation, initiates sampling of the surrounding air via the emission-detecting device in a second mode of operation for diverting from the predetermined path and determining of the geographic location via the location detecting component;
• wherein the handheld device is configured to plot the predetermined path for the user to follow;
• wherein the handheld device is configured to provide instructions to the user of a speed the user is to travel on the predetermined path for measuring one or more gases in the air;
• and
• wherein each of the air samples are associated with a corresponding geographic location within the geographic area so as to provide gas emissions data for the geographic area.

A method for monitoring gas emissions within a geographic area comprising:

• providing a gas-monitoring device configured to be transported within the geographic area to monitor gas emissions, the gas monitoring device having a location detecting component and a emission-detecting component having a plurality of modes of operation;
• displaying a map of the geographic area on a display device;
• plotting, on the display device, a path within the geographic area along which the gas emissions device is to be transported, wherein the path is a path for walking;
• determining with the location detecting component, geographic locations of the gas-monitoring device within the geographic area as the gas-monitoring device is moved within the geographic area;
• with the emission-detecting component in a first mode of operation, measuring a quantity of one or more gases in the air for each geographic location as the gas-monitoring device is moved within the geographic area, wherein the first mode of operation is used along the path within the geographic area;
• with the emission-detecting component in a second mode of operation, obtaining enhanced measurements of the one or more gases in the air within one or more areas of concern within the geographic area, wherein the second mode of operation is used while diverting from the path within the geographic area;
• associating with a computing component of the gas-monitoring device, the geographic locations with the quantity of one or more gases so as to provide gas emissions data for each geographic location where measurements are taken;
• and
• communicating with a communication component of the gas-monitoring device, the gas emissions data to one or more external devices.