Evaluating Low-Cost Commercially Available Sensors for Air Quality Monitoring and Application of Sensor Calibration Methods for Improving Accuracy

Abstract

In this paper, we present the results of the evaluation of three low-cost laser sensors and comparison with the standard device Metone Aerocet 531s which is capable of counting dust particles as small as 0.3 µm. The sensors used in this study are PMS5003 (Plantower), SPS30 (Sesirion), SM-UART-04L (Amphenol). During the measurement, the overall trend of the outputs from the sensors was similar to that of the Aerocet 531s. The PMS5003 sensor has a relatively small standard error in the all particle measurement ranges (<15 µg/m 3 in the low particle concentration range). All sensors have a high linearity compared to data from standard equipment, PMS5003: PM1.0 R 2 = 0.89; PM2.5 R 2 = 0.95; PM10 R 2 = 0.87; SPS30 PM2.5 R 2 = 0.95 and PM10 R 2 = 0.99; SM-UART-04L PM1.0 R 2 = 0.98. Three main sensor calibration methods (single-point calibration, two-point calibration and multi-point curve correction) with implementation steps for each method as well as their practical applications in calibrating low-cost air quality sensors according to standard measuring equipment are also detailed illustrated.

Optoelectronic refractometric sensing device for gases based on dielectric bow-ties and amorphous silicon solar cells

“… 8 – 14 . The monitoring of air quality and composition can be made through the measurement of its index of refraction 15 , 16 , that also depends on other physical parameters (temperature and pressure), and the chemical composition of the atmosphere (humidity, presence of natural or artificial specimens) 17 . As a consequence, a refractometric sensor can check if some preset conditions are fulfilled, or a known specimen varies its concentration.…”

“…In this contribution, we numerically analyze and quantitatively describe how to modify an aSiH cell to sense changes in controlled atmospheres. Although several optical technologies have been applied to sense refractometric changes in gases 15 , 16 , most of them are expensive and complex to operate. Our system is based on the selective opto-electronic response of a solar cell where its exposed surface is populated with dielectric bow-tie resonant structures sitting on a thin-film metallic front electrode that replace the classical transparent ITO layer.…”

PM2.5 and PM10 exposure in selected animal feed processing facilities in Kiambu County, Kenya.

“…This underestimates the dust concentration compared to personal sampling in other case studies (Health and Safety Executive, 2000;Aiguomudu, 2018). Additionally, this study utilized a low-cost, light-scattering-based portable particulate matter (PM) sensor, which can exhibit a non-linear response compared to the gravimetric reference methods applied in other studies (Nguyen et al, 2021). This response is experienced over various ranges of particulate matter concentration and could be a result of the low sensitivity of the particulate matter sensors (Liu et al, 2017).…”

Performance of Aether Low-Cost Sensor Device for Air Pollution Measurements in Urban Environments. Accuracy Evaluation Applying the Air Quality Index (AQI)

“…According to the Directive 2008/50/EC [12] on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, which clearly designates the need for fixed monitoring stations for significant pollutants, the development also of networks that consists of low-cost electrochemical sensors along with the necessary precision and accuracy of air pollution and meteorological measurements, offer an alternative to the problem. To that end, the use of electrochemical sensors compared to fixed site measurement monitoring stations, is of great interest among researchers with several studies putting forward methodologies similar to that currently adopted [13][14][15][16][17][18][19], and with others [20], giving more focus on the use of electrochemical sensors to monitor urban air quality, sensor design, laboratory and field performance. Environmental and air quality data obtained by such systems are thought to be less reliable than individual instruments and, therefore, concrete information about the sensitivity, selectivity and stability of sensors is necessary.…”