CITI-SENSE: Do You Want to Know about the Air You Breathe?

Environmental pollution, particularly of the air, is nowadays a major problem that unknowingly affects our lives in the cities. The CITI-SENSE project, led in Barcelona by CREAL (Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology), believes it is important that citizens know of the air that they breathe. So, we are developing state-of-the-art sensors and mobile applications to make this information more accessible.

In this phase of the project, we need volunteers to host a small, portable air pollution sensor at home (see the entry: WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SCIENTIFIC STUDY?). We are also looking for volunteers to wear an even smaller portable air pollution sensor, called a ‘Joey’.

The Joey is a small, wearable device, weighing about 200g and is easy to handle. It collects data on temperature, relative humidity, and multiple gaseous air pollutants (carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide) in real-time. The data it collects is location-marked and coupled with physical activity levels thanks to a special smartphone-based (Android) app called ExpoApp. This app connects with another app called CitiSense, which wirelessly (via Bluetooth) sends the encrypted data from the smartphone to an online data repository.

All data collected from these portable sensors will be used to create a modelled, temporally-updated air quality map of Barcelona city. This map will be open to anyone who wants to know of the air quality levels. Knowledge from this map may help someone choose a less contaminated route to their school or workplace.

Volunteers who want to carry a small, wearable air pollution sensor (‘Joey’) must:

• reside in Barcelona city

• be of legal age (18+ years)

• wear the sensor for a period of from one week up to one month or more. This point is entirely flexible and the volunteers can withdraw from the project at any time and without explanation

• the smartphone must be carried in a belt at the waist (belt supplied). If necessary, the Smartphone may be loaned to you by CREAL

• charge the sensor and the smartphone overnight (charger supplied)

Be our hero; help to improve your city by testing the use of this new, powerful type of sensor! Your experience will be a great help, not only for us but for all citizens as it is about creating an accessible tool for everyone.

For more information please email citisense@creal.cat or call <932147374> the project team.