Colombia. A group of researchers from CES University and the ITM University Institution of Medellín, developed a device for measuring and capturing air pollutants, which can be used for academic and research purposes in small and easily accessible spaces.
"The project arises from the need to know a characteristic of environmental pollution such as air pollutants, and analyze how that is related to other environmental factors. With this prototype what we seek is to have the characterization of a small, closed environment or micro environments, "explained Dayan Guerra Flórez, researcher at the In vitro Toxicity Unit (UTi) of CES University.
The developed equipment is about the size of a shoebox. It contains sensors that measure temperature, relative humidity, ozone, pressure, altitude; as well as a GPS. The equipment also includes a sensor that measures/detects particle concentrations per million in enclosed spaces such as a room, office or laboratory.
"With this equipment what we can obtain are measurement data from conditions of temperature, humidity and pressure and also from air pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone. Once we obtain the information from these data we can make various analyzes that facilitate decision-making regarding issues related to environmental pollution, "said Dr. Andrés Pareja López, scientific director of the UTi of the University.
By means of a USB connection port the device can be connected to a computer. The connection allows the reading of data stored on a micro SD card that can be used to analyze and evaluate the behavior of air quality in the area where the equipment is located.
The value proposition of the device has to do with its easy handling, the capture of information and the economic value of less than 1 million pesos (about US $ 200). In addition, it has an estimate of the air quality of microenvironments, allows quantifying exposure to pollutants, capturing samples of pollutants and generating a quality standard.
