Evaluating Urban Odor with Field Olfactometry in Camden, NJ

Abstract

Odor annoyance negatively impacts residents of communities adjacent to persistent nuisance industries. These residents, often with a high percentage of minority or otherwise marginalized residents, experience subjective and objective impacts on health and well-being; yet, reliable methods for quantifying and categorizing odors have been elusive. Field olfactometry is integral to the study of odor annoyance experienced by communities as it includes both qualitative (human perception) and quantitative (intensity measurement) dimensions of human odor experience and has been employed by municipalities in the U.S. to evaluate odor pollution levels. Cartographic visualization of odor data recorded using a field olfactometer offers further opportunity to evaluate potential patterns of odor annoyance, yet the use of field olfactometry and geographic information systems have not been frequently employed by geographers. By employing a mixed-methods approach to evaluate odor pollution, this study addresses the environmental justice context by quantifying and categorizing the presence of odor pollution in Waterfront South, a neighborhood in Camden, NJ previously identified for its disproportionate malodor burden. This study offers support to mixed methods research and the need for monitoring subjective and objective impacts in communities with compounding odor nuisance industries.

Using Multi-Sensory and Multi-Dimensional Immersive Virtual Reality in Participatory Planning

“…Additionally, only a handful of researchers are incorporating complex 4D multi-sensory variables of the environment, such as auditory and visual parameters, to create or enhance the IVR technology and applying them in the planning process [17,24]. Smell, for example, is one of the most primal and influential forms of environmental sensing [25,26], but there is little understanding of the role or benefit of olfactory cues in IVR-based participatory planning experience. Our aim is to learn if or how multi-sensory and multi-dimensional IVR simulations may increase people's interactions with a proposed planning or design project.…”

EXPERIENCING URBAN SMELLS WHEN WALKING: Kastamonu City Case

“…In previous observations made throughout the year, it had been determined that temperature, humidity and wind affected the perception of scents. Subjects failed to identify the smells in windy conditions and at low temperatures (Huberman and Pearlmutter, 2008;Badach et al, 2018;Kitson et al, 2019). Consequently, our study was conducted between July and October at noon when the wind was blowing at 8km/h and the average temperature was 22°C, so there was no negative impact on the walk in terms of temperature and wind.…”