Dr. Keng Been Ang is a professional engineer with a Ph.D. in engineering, specialising in environmental and workplace air quality. He currently serves as the Managing and Board Director of SKC Asia, the Asian office of SKC Inc, dedicated to air sampling and monitoring technologies. With a strong foundation in applied research and development, technical consultancy, and education, Dr. Ang has been actively engaged in international initiatives aimed at improving indoor and occupational environments.
Over the years, he has collaborated with global institutions, regulatory agencies, and professional organisations to enhance air quality standards and practices. His work spans the development of practical tools and strategies for environmental and workplace air monitoring in both industrial and commercial settings.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Dr. Ang contributes his expertise as a member of various industry committees and technical panels. He also lectures at regional universities and serves as a mentor for postgraduate research projects. His passion lies in bridging science and practice to deliver solutions to environmental and occupational health challenges.
Through his diverse roles, Dr. Ang remains committed to advancing healthier, safer environments for all.
Abstract
The growing complexity of workplace and environmental exposures has accelerated the demand for more comprehensive air monitoring solutions. While traditional industrial hygiene sampling technologies remain the cornerstone of regulatory compliance, new developments in sensor and data technologies are reshaping how exposure is assessed in real time.
Traditional air sampling tools include personal sampling pumps, size-selective inlets, suitable sampling media for dust, aerosols, gases, vapours etc. These instruments continue to play a vital role in accurately quantifying particulate, bio-aerosols, and chemical exposures, particularly in regulatory and research applications requiring time-weighted averages or laboratory-based confirmation.
Complementing these methods are direct-reading instruments, which offer immediate measurements of particulates, gases and vapours. These instruments enable (near) real-time data collection, enhancing situational awareness and supporting rapid decision-making in dynamic workplace environments. In parallel, by merging time-synchronised video footage with logged exposure data, there are available techniques that allow for visual correlation between worker activity and exposure levels. This integrated analysis supports root cause identification, task-based exposure assessment, and targeted intervention strategies.
Recent developments in image recognition technologies further enhance airborne particulate identification by enabling automated classification of the collected samples. These systems use advanced optics and artificial intelligence to provide continuous, high-resolution data, supporting applications in environmental and exposure monitoring.
This presentation discusses the complementary roles of these technologies in building a more responsive and data-rich exposure assessment framework. By integrating gravimetric, direct-reading, and automated recognition methods, stakeholders can obtain a multidimensional view of air quality and worker exposure. The convergence of traditional and modern tools represents a practical pathway towards smarter, faster, and more informed occupational and environmental health decisions.
