Citizens or Consumers? Air Quality Sensor Users and Their Involvement in Sensor.Community. Results from Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

This article presents the results of the qualitative research conducted on Polish users of the Sensor.Community network. Different types of motivation behind the decision to engage in the collection of air quality data are discussed. Users’ motives have been found to result predominantly from the concern for the health and safety of their loved ones, as well as the need to control air quality (and ultimately the quality of life) in their immediate environment (home and neighbourhood). Users do not display civic behaviour such as working for the local community. Three factors have been proposed to explain this status quo. First, the motives related to health and safety, as opposed to motives behind seeking a resolution to an environmental problem at the local level, may contribute to the solidification of individualistic attitudes. Second, Sensor.Community is organised in a way that does not promote a greater involvement from the network organisers in the development of the initiative and retention of users. Instead, the network focuses predominantly on the technical aspects of operation. Third, users have no sense of agency as, in our opinion, they remain largely unaware of the value of the data they collect.

The Effect of the Thermal Annealing Process to the Sensing Performance of Magnetoelastic Ribbon Materials

“…Sensors are an integrable part of a modern society as they help to continuously monitor vital physical/chemical parameters, which are the crucial components for society's long-range sustainability. For example, sensors help with smart urbanization [1], monitor the air quality [2] and the water quality [3], help against pollution by monitoring sewer networks [4], and improve production in agriculture [5,6].…”