Environmental Monitoring of Urban Environment Using Inexpensive Sensors

Unprecedented access to inexpensive computing systems, plug-and-play sensor systems, and wireless connectivity provide opportunity for establishment of dense network of observations for urban environmental monitoring and applications.  Environmental Monitoring Employing Sensor Hierarchies (EMESH) is a network of sensor packages that can be used for mobile deployment or fixed installation.  EMESH nodes measure air quality (PM2.5 and Ozone), air temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall, and wind speed and direction.  EMESH utilizes relatively inexpensive sensors and is designed to be used in conjunction with other data sources.  Whereas the accuracy of the sensors used is less when compared to commercial systems, high spatial density of observations provides information that can fused with other high quality, sparse density observations.  Two types of microprocessor systems, Raspberry Pi and Arduino are used to interface with the sensors and for data logging and communications.  Communication capabilities include cell modems and also wireless sensor networking.  The nodes are powered from a 12V lead-acid battery that is recharged using a single solar panel.  The meteorological sensors show performance comparable to ASOS observations.  Air quality sensors show high correlation to FRM measurements.  The talk presents observations collected using the EMESH sensor system and will discuss potential applications of the system for making decisions related to urban air quality and hydrology.