From Workplace Safety to Behavioral Change: Diverse Applications of Low-Cost Sensors in Indoor Environments

Low-cost sensors (LCS) have emerged as versatile tools for air quality monitoring across diverse applications. This presentation synthesizes some of our work and findings from multiple projects, demonstrating the adaptability and effectiveness of LCS in various monitoring scenarios.

We have investigated the usefulness of low-cost sensors for continuous monitoring of particle exposure as a tool for workplace interventions. Through a systematic study across four companies, we have benchmarked the performance of LCS against reference-grade equipment in realistic work environment settings. LCS with sufficient accuracy potentially enables organizations to perform their own air quality management. We have provided such a system to the companies and are currently assessing how access to real-time LCS data has changed the safety cultures in the workplaces. Moreover, we have utilized LCS sensors to validate the performance of novel air cleaning technology in diverse environments such as garbage truck cabins and elder care facilities.

Another initiative aimed to develop an early warning system for fungal spores in greenhouse environments, to reduce the use of preventive fungicide. The system achieved an accuracy of 83% with less than 5% false positives in identification of “high” greymold spore-counts. This system demonstrated the potential for LCS in preventing crop diseases while reducing fungicide use.

In another project, we utilized CO2 sensors to study user behavior modifications in office environments, while also looking at its effects on the indoor climate. Revealing a simple case of how data analysis of simple measurements and the implementation of LCS itself provided insights into nudging humans to improve their working environment while determining the potential effects. Lastly, we have utilized LCS in schools and daycares to evaluate indoor air quality (IAQ) and correlate IAQ to the transmission of airborne patogens and thereby spread of disease.   

These diverse applications highlight a small part of the versatility and strengths of LCS, while demonstrating practical solutions for data quality challenges, calibration procedures, and long-term reliability. Our experiences provide insights for implementing LCS across various scenarios, particularly in resource-constrained environments.