A Low-Cost Sensor System Installed in Buses to Monitor Air Quality in Cities

Carolina Correia (), Vânia Martins, Bernardo Matroca, Pedro Santana, Pedro Mariano, Alexandre Almeida and Susana Marta Almeida
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Carolina Correia: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Vânia Martins: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Bernardo Matroca: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Pedro Santana: ISCTE—Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal
Pedro Mariano: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal
Alexandre Almeida: ISCTE—Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal
Susana Marta Almeida: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Air pollution is an important source of morbidity and mortality. It is essential to understand to what levels of air pollution citizens are exposed, especially in urban areas. Low-cost sensors are an easy-to-use option to obtain real-time air quality (AQ) data, provided that they go through specific quality control procedures. This paper evaluates the reliability of the ExpoLIS system. This system is composed of sensor nodes installed in buses, and a Health Optimal Routing Service App to inform the commuters about their exposure, dose, and the transport’s emissions. A sensor node, including a particulate matter (PM) sensor (Alphasense OPC-N3), was evaluated in laboratory conditions and at an AQ monitoring station. In laboratory conditions (approximately constant temperature and humidity conditions), the PM sensor obtained excellent correlations (R 2 ≈1) against the reference equipment. At the monitoring station, the OPC-N3 showed considerable data dispersion. After several corrections based on the k-Köhler theory and Multiple Regression Analysis, the deviation was reduced and the correlation with the reference improved. Finally, the ExpoLIS system was installed, leading to the production of AQ maps with high spatial and temporal resolution, and to the demonstration of the Health Optimal Routing Service App as a valuable tool.

Keywords: air quality; low-cost sensors; particulate matter; mobile experiments; calibration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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