ME.5 - Citizen science with smart gas sensors: air quality assessment and environmental studies by students

Event
17th International Meeting on Chemical Sensors - IMCS 2018
2018-07-15 - 2018-07-19
Vienna, Austria
Chapter
MEMS-based Sensing
Author(s)
A. Schuetze, S. Hoefner, B. Brueck - Laboratory for Measurement Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken (Germany), M. Hirth, K. J. - Physics Education Research Group, Department of Physics, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern (Germany)
Pages
421 - 422
DOI
10.5162/IMCS2018/ME.5
ISBN
978-3-9816876-9-9
Price
free

Abstract

Harmful gases often are odorless as well as invisible and therefore only recognizable with gas sensors. This leads to limited awareness of possible hazards in the general population. In a novel project, we aim to introduce high school students to modern micro gas sensors allowing them to use smart sensor systems coupled with a smartphone app for air quality assessment and environmental studies. In three modules students learn how a metal oxide gas sensor works, how to calibrate a sensor and to evaluate data from environmental measurements with mobile devices. The ultimate aim is to increase the students environmental awareness for air pollution in general and especially concerning the effects of our own behavior, with this citizen science inspired approach.

Download