Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Pollution/Toxic Substances/Waste
Mercedes Winfrey - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
Co-Author(s): Von P. Walden, Washington State University, Pullman Washington
Washington State University (WSU) is collaborating to make Spokane, Washington a leader in smart city technologies. The Smart Cities Project will use smart sensor technology to provide better management of resources (such as energy and water) while also promoting health and well-being in the city. The Laboratory for Atmospheric Research at WSU is developing a sensor package for monitoring air quality for the Smart Cities Project, using various sensors to measure carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter (particles from smoke and pollution). These sensors have been interfaced to a Raspberry Pi computer and are being mounted into a weather-proof 3-D printed container. As an initial test, we will measure the indoor air quality and ventilation rate with a cost-efficient CO2 sensor within a laboratory in the new PACCAR Environmental Technology Building at WSU. Carbon dioxide will be released into the lab periodically, and we will analyze the data on how the gas is disbursed within room. The rate at which the carbon dioxide dissipates in the lab will allow us to study the ventilation rate. The accuracy of the data from the sensor package will be compared to a more accurate and expensive LI-COR 820 Closed-Path CO2 sensors, which is currently being used in a national study of the indoor air quality of residential homes. Lastly, the various sensors will be mounted into the weather-proof container for eventual deployment on light posts in Spokane as part of the Smart Cities Project.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation
Faculty Advisor: Anissa Buckner, bucknera@uapb.edu
Role: Build weather-proof 3D container; Run co2 emissions test; Calculate room ventilation; Run python code through Raspberry Pi Computer; and Create Poster