NWI EMF Pilot

Hypothesis testing plan for Northwest Indiana

A small, defensible pilot focused on exposure measurement, control sites, QA/QC, and a clean decision on whether the signal is worth scaling.

1. Hypotheses

  • Compare corridor vs control readings.
  • Look for repeated peaks by source type.
  • Check time-of-day and day-of-week patterns.

2. Field protocol

  • Use public or permissioned sites.
  • Sample on a fixed route and schedule.
  • Log weather, setting, location, and anomalies.

3. Analysis

  • Summarize medians, peaks, and comparisons.
  • Map results and check repeatability.
  • Keep inference separate from observation.

4. Decision rule

  • Expand only if the pattern repeats.
  • If not, revise or stop.
  • No grand theories without data.

Recommended local frame

Corridor sites: Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago. Control sites: Crown Point, Munster, Hobart, or similar lower-activity comparison points. Purdue University Northwest is a sensible institutional partner to explore.

Deliverables

The folder includes a README, hypotheses, field protocol, analysis plan, and a checklist/template pack so the pilot can move from idea to fieldwork without turning into a spreadsheet swamp.