This project seeks to develop a framework for using and collecting data from a range of home-based sensors.
We are carrying out a small pilot which will see us test a range of sensors placed in homes. These would primarily be temperature, relative humidity and air quality sensors. These sensors already come in a wide range of types in terms of data collection types and continuity. Some sensors collect continuous data on a single element, and some other sensors collect multiple types of data with a spot-check measurement. This study will not only look at the pros and cons of different types of sensors but will also examine the process of collecting and validating data. We will also attempt to link sensor measurements with the social survey and housing features/characteristics. The study will not aim to produce representative data but rather to examine the process of collecting sensor data to produce a protocol for these sorts of studies to allow others to carry out large sensor projects with subjects recruited from representative surveys.
Aims and objectives
The pilot study will explore the process of carrying out this type of sensor project, as well as investigating the pros and cons of a wide range of sensors. We aim to explore:
- The reliability of sensors (accuracy, robustness, cost, ease of usage, and consistency)
- The pros and cons of different types of sensors
- The type of data generated
- The ethical concerns of these type of sensor projects and the data they collect
- The governance of the different projects
- The impact of feedback to respondents during monitoring
Researchers
Leads: Dr Qunshan Zhao; Dr Mark Livingston
Latest Outputs
- Paper: Zhao, Q., Li, Z., Shah, D., Fischer, H., Solís, P., & Wentz, E. (2021). Understanding the Interaction between Human Activities and Physical Health under Extreme Heat Environment in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Paper: Thakuriah, P. (Vonu), Sila-Nowicka, K., Hong, J., Boididou, C., Osborne, M., Lido, C., & McHugh, A. (2020). Integrated Multimedia City Data (iMCD): A composite survey and sensing approach to understanding urban living and mobility. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 80, 101427.
