Encouraged by a recent NOAA Center for Remote Sensing Science and Technology (CREST) grant, a number of eastern U.S. and Canadian researchers have agreed to begin collaboration on a Regional East Atmospheric Lidar Mesonet (REALM). REALM is designed to monitor air quality in the vertical from multiple locations on the east coast. At this point, many of the collaborators are unfunded and are seeking individual support for the effort.( Hoff et. al 2002 )

                                                                                                                                Funding for parts of the program has been made available from two NOAA sponsored centers, the Center for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS) based at Howard University, and the Center for Remote Sensing Science and Technology (CREST) based at City College of New York. CCNY, Hampton University, and UMBC are partners in CREST. ( Hoff et. al 2003 )