TY - JOUR

T1 - Combining physiological, environmental and locational sensors for citizen-oriented health applications

AU - Huck, Jonathan

AU - Whyatt, James Duncan

AU - Coulton, Paul

AU - Davison, Brian Matthew

AU - Gradinar, Adrian Ioan

PY - 2017/3

Y1 - 2017/3

N2 - This work investigates the potential of combining the outputs of multiple low-cost sensor technologies for the direct measurement of spatio-temporal variations in phenomena that exist at the interface between our bodies and the environment. The example used herein is the measurement of personal exposure to traffic pollution, which may be considered as a functionof the concentration of pollutants in the air and the frequency and volume of that air which enters our lungs.The sensor-based approach described in this paper removes the ‘traditional’ requirements either to model or interpolate pollution levels or to make assumptions about the physiology of an individual. Rather, a wholly empirical analysis into pollution exposure is possible, based upon high-resolution spatio-temporal data drawn from sensors for NO2, nasal airflow and location (GPS).Data are collected via a custom smartphone application and mapped to give an unprecedented insight into exposure to traffic pollution at the individual level. Whilst the quality of data from low-cost miniaturised sensors is not suitable for all applications, there certainly are many applications for which these data would be well suited, particularly those in the field of citizen science. Thispaper demonstrates both the potential and limitations of sensor-based approaches and discusses the wider relevance of these technologies for the advancement of citizen science.

AB - This work investigates the potential of combining the outputs of multiple low-cost sensor technologies for the direct measurement of spatio-temporal variations in phenomena that exist at the interface between our bodies and the environment. The example used herein is the measurement of personal exposure to traffic pollution, which may be considered as a functionof the concentration of pollutants in the air and the frequency and volume of that air which enters our lungs.The sensor-based approach described in this paper removes the ‘traditional’ requirements either to model or interpolate pollution levels or to make assumptions about the physiology of an individual. Rather, a wholly empirical analysis into pollution exposure is possible, based upon high-resolution spatio-temporal data drawn from sensors for NO2, nasal airflow and location (GPS).Data are collected via a custom smartphone application and mapped to give an unprecedented insight into exposure to traffic pollution at the individual level. Whilst the quality of data from low-cost miniaturised sensors is not suitable for all applications, there certainly are many applications for which these data would be well suited, particularly those in the field of citizen science. Thispaper demonstrates both the potential and limitations of sensor-based approaches and discusses the wider relevance of these technologies for the advancement of citizen science.

KW - GIS

KW - Sensors

KW - Citizen science

KW - Traffic pollution exposure

U2 - 10.1007/s10661-017-5817-6

DO - 10.1007/s10661-017-5817-6

M3 - Journal article

VL - 189

JO - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

JF - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

SN - 0167-6369

M1 - 114

ER -