Airbeam is a unique combination of innovation, mobile technology & crowd sourcing.
Have you ever wondered about the quality of the air you are breathing every day? How about during forest fire season or in an area of high industrialization? Most commonly air quality data-supplied to the general public is obtained from large, stationary testing stations that sample air in their direct vicinity (here is a link that maps out local stations in the metro Vancouver area provided by the provincial government http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/bcairquality/readings/find-stations-map.html)
Airbeam is an attempt to improve upon air quality data collection by providing inexpensive, handheld, and wireless air quality testers that link with smart phones via bluetooth. The air testing device is able to collect data on the quality of the air around it and uses it’s link with Airbeam’s app (Aircasting) that is installed on the users smart phone to record and share the data collected online.
The app allows the mobile user to follow the data of the Airbeam and create personalized graphs for specified periods of time for specified particles being tested (ex: particulate matter, CO2, humidity & temperature). The crowd sourcing aspect involves the collection of data that can be shared from all Airbeam users to create a larger and more complex mapping of data.
For more information about the Airbeam you can visit for official website: https://www.habitatmap.org
The official website for the Airbeam loads fine on smartphones and was also confirmed as mobile friendly by google’s mobile-friendly test.
Review:
Metro Vancouver provided local residents an opportunity to test these devices on a volunteer basis and I was lucky enough to participate from the location of the school I was teaching at in Richmond, BC. The application and device allowed my students to analyze real-time data while walking around the school and neighbourhood. As the levels of particulate matter and CO2 changed we discussed possible factors that could influence fluctuations in the air quality such as the weather, motor vehicle exhaust and construction sites in the area. It was a great opportunity to really see the value of such data collection and put a focus on the importance of air quality and testing elements of our environment.
The app and device were not perfect and we ran into a lot of connection issues at first but after everything was set up properly it was well worth the troubleshooting struggle.
Mobile testing instruments are not a new concept as you can find many industrial air quality testers, water testers, soil testers…etc for sale. What makes the Airbeam system unique is the connectivity and open sharing of information it makes possible to help create a wider view of environmental conditions. Such information and data sharing can be extremely valuable for educational purposes and is the true mobile/open technology aspect for this technology and why I think it has value to discuss in this course.
I’ve defiantly noticed more people talking about air quality in the last few years. I wonder how much of that is due to technology and our exposure to media or air quality is actually getting worse? Great post!
Environmental conditions are a huge health hazard when living in a very populated industrialized city. This is an issue I currently face as air quality is moderate at best and rarely good. This device is useful for collecting data and bringing awareness which would allow the user to take necessary steps to safe guard their health. An amazing device would be a portable air purifier and air quality reader to clean the air around you. 🙂 LG launched a portable air purifier mask. I would love to see if it works. But this doesn’t solve the issue of the harm being done to the environment.
Environmental conditions are a huge health hazard when living in a very populated industrialized city. This is an issue I currently face as sometimes air quality is moderate at best and rarely good. So the device is useful for collecting data and bringing awareness to user to safe guard their health. What would be an amazing device if there was a portable air purifier to clean the air around you. 🙂 LG launched a portable air purifier mask. I would love to see if it works. But this doesn’t solve the issue of harming the environment.
Andrea a portable air purifying mask would be amazing !! Honestly, you should develop that!
It sounds like thus kind of tech would create opportunities for talking about sustainability both locally (what’s going on around me?) And globally (what’s the air quality like around the world?). Very interesting!