Skip to main content
Book cover

Multimedia Tools and Applications for Environmental & Biodiversity Informatics pp 31–51Cite as

A Toolbox for Understanding and Implementing a Citizens’ Observatory on Air Monitoring

  • 654 Accesses

Part of the Multimedia Systems and Applications book series (MMSA)

Abstract

This chapter explores the growing trend of using innovative tools, particularly low cost micro-sensors and mobile apps, to facilitate the citizen participation process within an environmental monitoring programme. Special focus will be put on tools that are linked to major initiatives that form citizens’ observatories (CitObs) on air quality and that address novel ways to involve citizens. On the basis of providing an overview of a Citizens’ Observatory’ Toolbox (COT) developed in the EU FP7 CITI-SENSE project, this chapter introduces a number of tools that together provide the foundation of a complete citizens’ observatory. We present these tools from two perspectives, the users’ and the developers’ perspective. Special emphasis will be placed on those tools developed specifically for the nine case study locations within the CITI-SENSE project and on the technical elements and frameworks that can be further exploited for the creation of new citizens’ observatories in the future. In addition, this chapter highlights the usage of these tools in order to support citizens’ involvement within environmental monitoring of air quality, particularly for the collection of data and observations via sensors, mobile apps and surveys. This chapter will also touch on analysis and visualisation of observations through software widgets and web portals.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-76445-0_3
  • Chapter length: 21 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-319-76445-0
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Hardcover + eBook
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Softcover Book
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions
Fig. 3.1
Fig. 3.2
Fig. 3.3
Fig. 3.4
Fig. 3.5
Fig. 3.6
Fig. 3.7
Fig. 3.8
Fig. 3.9
Fig. 3.10
Fig. 3.11
Fig. 3.12
Fig. 3.13
Fig. 3.14
Fig. 3.15

Notes

  1. 1.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu.

  2. 2.

    www.hackair.eu.

  3. 3.

    www.captor-project.eu.

  4. 4.

    http://crowdsourced-transport.com/airtick-air-quality-monitoring-from-selfies.

  5. 5.

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.cordova.CityAir&hl=en.

  6. 6.

    http://www.civicflow.com.

  7. 7.

    https://git.nilu.no/citi-sense/sense-it-now/blame/ada3e0b10fba65b35f673c3b93ff48f7a3bd1ade/CSToolboxTest/PostRequest.html.

  8. 8.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/MobileApps/SENSE-IT-NOW.aspx.

  9. 9.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/Surveys.aspx.

  10. 10.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/Widgets.aspx.

  11. 11.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/Methods.aspx.

  12. 12.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/WebPortals.aspx.

  13. 13.

    http://ateknea.com.

  14. 14.

    http://www.aqmesh.com.

  15. 15.

    http://atmosphericsensors.com/news/model-510-remote-air-quality-monitor.

  16. 16.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/Portals/1/Templates/Sensor%20guideline/obeo-info-Radon.pdf.

  17. 17.

    vitoria.citi-sense.eu.

  18. 18.

    civicflow.com.

  19. 19.

    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.cordova.CityAir.

  20. 20.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/Methods.aspx.

  21. 21.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu/CitizensObservatoriesToolbox/Widgets.aspx.

  22. 22.

    http://www.dnnsoftware.com/community/participate/community-showcase.

  23. 23.

    http://www.technion.ac.il/en.

  24. 24.

    http://www.nilu.no.

  25. 25.

    http://www.nrk.no/viten/slik-unngar-du-skader-fra-lufta-du-puster-1.12151864.

  26. 26.

    https://www.naaf.no/globalassets/x-gamle-bilder/documents/1.-astmaallergi/aa-1-15/sider-fra-astma1_15_citi-sense.pdf.

  27. 27.

    https://www.ijs.si/ijsw/JSI.

  28. 28.

    http://co.citi-sense.eu.

References

  1. Berre, A.I., Joglekar, B., Fernandez, A., et al. (2016). Deliverable D7.6 - Part 3: Citizens’ Observatory Toolbox – Developer perspective. Available at http://co.citi-sense.eu/TheProject/Publications/Deliverables.aspx (accessed on 9th August 2017).

  2. Borrego, C., Costa, A.M., Ginja, J., et al. (2016). Assessment of air quality microsensors versus reference methods: The EuNetAir joint exercise. Atmospheric Environment 147: 246–263.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  3. Castell, N., Dauge, F.R., Schneider, P. (2017). Can commercial low-cost sensor platforms contribute to air quality monitoring and exposure estimates? Environment International 99: 293–302.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  4. Castell, N., Kobernus, M., Liu, H.-Y., Schneider, P., Lahoz, W., Berre, A.J., Noll, J. (2015). Mobile technologies and services for environmental monitoring: The Citi-Sense-MOB approach. Urban Climate 14(3): 370–382.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  5. Fishbain, B., Lerner, U., Castell, N., et al. (2017) An evaluation tool kit of air quality micro-sensing units. Science of the Total Environment 575: 639–648.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  6. Fredriksen, M., Bartonova, A., Kruzevic, Z., Kobernus, M., Liu, H.-Y., Santiago, L., Schneider, P., & Tamilin, A. (2016). CITI-SENSE. Final report on methodology. Deliverable 6.4, Work Package 6 (NILU report, 29/2016). Kjeller: NILU.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Grossberndt, S., and Liu, H.-Y. (2016). Citizen participation approaches in environmental health. In Pacyna, J., & Pacyna, E. (Eds.), Environmental Determinants of Human Health (pp 225–248). London, UK: Springer.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  8. Jovašević-Stojanović, M., Bartonova, A., Topalović, D., et al. (2015). On the use of small and cheaper sensors and devices for indicative citizen-based monitoring of respirable particulate matter. Environmental Pollution 206: 696–704.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  9. Kotsev, A., Pantisano, F., Schade, S., Jirka, S. (2015) Architecture of a Service-Enabled Sensing Platform for the Environment. Sensors 15: 4470–4495.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  10. Kotsev, A., Schade, S., Craglia, M., Gerboles, M., Spinelle, L., Signorini, M. (2016). Next Generation Air Quality Platform: Openness and Interoperability for the Internet of Things. Sensors 16(3): 403.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  11. Liu, H.-Y., Bartonova, A., Berre, A., et al. (2015). Deliverable D 4.3 – CITI-SENSE Citizens’ Observatories – Version 1. Restricted to the CITI-SENSE consortium.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Liu, H.-Y., Kobernus, M. (2016). Deliverable D 4.5 – The CITI-SENSE Citizens’ Observatories Web Portal. Available at http://co.citi-sense.eu/TheProject/Publications/Deliverables.aspx (accessed on 8th August 2017).

  13. Liu, H-Y., Kobernus, M. (2017). Citizen science and its role in the sustainable development. Chapter in the book with title “Analysing the Role of Citizen Science in Modern Research (Advances in Knowledge Acquisition, Transfer, and Management)”. Ceccaroni, L, and Piera, J (Eds). IGI Globe.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Liu, H-Y., Kobernus, M., Broday, D., and Bartonova, A. (2014). A conceptual approach to a citizens’ observatory - supporting community-based environmental governance. Environ. Health 13:107.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  15. Moltchanov, S., Levy, I., Etzion, Y., Lerner, U., Broday, D.M., Fishbain, B. (2014). On the feasibility of measuring air pollution by wireless distributed sensor nodes. Sci Total Environ. 502C: 537–547.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Montargil, F., Santos, V. (2017), Citizen Observatories: Concept, Opportunities and Communication with Citizens in the First EU Experiences. In: Paulin A., Anthopoulos L., Reddick C. (eds) Beyond Bureaucracy. Public Administration and Information Technology, vol 25. Springer, Cham.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Robinson, J., Kocman, D., Smolnikar, M., Mohorčič, M., Horvat, M. (2014). Empowerment in practice - insights from CITI-SENSE project in Ljubljana. Geophysical Research Abstracts. Vol. 16, EGU General Assembly, EGU2014-5458-1, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Schneider, P., Castell, N., Lahoz, W., Vallejo, I. (2016). Deliverable 6.6 – Data fusion of crowdsourced air quality observations and dispersion model data for urban-scale air quality mapping. Available at http://co.citi-sense.eu/TheProject/Publications/Deliverables.aspx (accessed on 8th August 2017).

  19. Slørdal, L. H., Solberg, S., andWalker, S. E. (2003). The Urban Air Dispersion Model EPISODE applied in AirQUIS 2003, Technical description, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NILU TR 12/03, Kjeller, Norway, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wehn, U., Evers, J. (2015). The social innovation potential of ICT-enabled citizen observatories to increase eParticipation in local flood risk management. Technology in Society 42: 187–198.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NILU – Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, Norway

    Hai-Ying Liu, Mike Kobernus & Mirjam Fredriksen

  2. TECHNION – Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa, Israel

    Yaela Golumbic

  3. JSI – Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Johanna Robinson

Authors
  1. Hai-Ying Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mike Kobernus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mirjam Fredriksen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yaela Golumbic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Johanna Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hai-Ying Liu .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Inria ZENITH Team, Montpellier, France

    Alexis Joly

  2. Centre for Research & Technology, Hellas – Information Technologies Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dr. Stefanos Vrochidis

  3. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Prof. Dr. Kostas Karatzas

  4. FMI/Atmospheric Composition, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    Prof. Dr. Ari Karppinen

  5. CIRAD, UMR AMAP, Montpellier, France

    Pierre Bonnet

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Liu, HY., Kobernus, M., Fredriksen, M., Golumbic, Y., Robinson, J. (2018). A Toolbox for Understanding and Implementing a Citizens’ Observatory on Air Monitoring. In: Joly, A., Vrochidis, S., Karatzas, K., Karppinen, A., Bonnet, P. (eds) Multimedia Tools and Applications for Environmental & Biodiversity Informatics. Multimedia Systems and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76445-0_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76445-0_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76444-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76445-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)