Archival is a process that ends a sensor’s current registration. Given that a sensor’s map location is assigned during registration, archival permanently links all previously collected sensor data with its current location on the map (or all sensor data since the last archival). Then, when a sensor is re-registered to a new location, all data moving forward will be associated with that location until another archival.
We want to ensure that data collected from PurpleAir sensors is correctly associated with the sensors’ new locations. So, when a sensor is moved to a new location, its data will need to be “archived” before the sensor is re-registered.
Archiving also resets the owner’s email, allowing it to be freely set when registering the sensor again.
Archival is not necessary if your sensor is only moving a small distance, such as to a different room in the same house.
Why is Archival Important?
Archiving a sensor before moving it helps keep data accurate to the location it was collected at. This is important for people who need location accurate data, such as researchers using public PurpleAir data.
How Can I Archive my Sensor?
If your sensor needs to be archived, send an email to contact@purpleair.com with the request and the device ID. Once you receive confirmation from PurpleAir that your device has been archived, you can re-register it in its new location.
If you need to move your sensor’s location on the map without archival, you can learn how to do so here: Move Sensor Location and Map Marker
Does Archiving Affect the API?
All data produced by a sensor is stored under its "sensor index.” This 4-6 character code that is unique to every sensor on the map. When a sensor is archived, its sensor index will change. Essentially, if you are retrieving data from a sensor and it is archived, you will need to find its new sensor index to continue pulling updated data.
Learn More
PurpleAir Map Guide
About the PurpleAir API
Why Should I Put My Indoor Sensor On The Map?