Mobile system for on-road measurements of air pollutants

Abstract

The paper presents a prototype of a mobile monitoring system for measuring the levels of the main traffic air pollutants (C(6)H(6), NO(2), NO(x), CO, and CO(2),) in cities. The novelty of the proposed system lies in the fact that it can be utilized to monitor emissions from urban traffic along roads and areas where traditional monitoring stations cannot be placed. In the proposed system, the monitoring device can be mounted on any moving vehicle (such as a car, bus, or truck) rather than be attached to a dedicated van, as most systems of this kind found in literature are. Analyzers used in this system are small portable structures that contain an electronic instrument to measure, record, and transmit relevant data on concentrations of the pollutants to a website. The model outcome for carbon monoxide obtained in functional tests in real conditions is also presented here. Data on temporal changes of carbon monoxide concentration are compared against meteorological parameters and speed of the vehicle. Spatial interpolation techniques are applied to obtain a nonplanar visualization of carbon monoxide and benzene concentrations in the main arteries of a city.

Quantifying the sensing power of vehicle fleets

“…The diverse data supplied by drive-by sensing have broad utility. High-resolution air-quality readings can help combat pollution, while measurements of air temperature and humidity can help improve the calibration of meteorological models (24, 25) and are useful in the detection of gas leaks (26). Degraded road segments can be identified with accelerometer data, helping inform preventive repair (27, 28), while pedestrian-density data can be helpful in the modeling of crowd dynamics (29).…”

Wireless systems of threats monitoring

“…For example level of pollution was examined within the major crossroads in various states of utilisation, and within selected districts of city near main streets of Gdańsk agglomeration [10].…”