Data monitoring is a pillar of LIFE CRITICAL’s work, allowing us to evaluate the impact of our climate adaptation measures in real-time with quantitative evidence. All this is made possible by our partner imec.
Imec is an R&D hub for nano- and digital technologies that supports large-scale environmental monitoring in LIFE CRITICAL. Their expertise includes:
- Sensor Expertise and Benchmarking
- Sensor Node Integration and Deployments
- Data Quality Algorithms
- Visualisation and Analytics
Key to their approach is enabling innovative air quality solutions by using low-cost off-the-shelf IoT sensors and combining it with cloud-based calibration algorithms that increase sensor accuracy in real-time. Not only does this make the project more affordable, thereby increasing our opportunities to scale up, but it also makes this work more approachable to citizens. In the previous installation of sensors, numerous citizens have contributed to their set-up and maintenance.
Since 2021, OnePlanet Research Center, a collaboration between imec, Wageningen University, Radboud University and Radboud University Medical Center is responsible for the monitoring activities in LIFE CRITICAL. OnePlanet focuses on combining imec technology with the domain expertise from the universities and applying it to develop innovative solutions in the health, agriculture-food and environmental sensing domains.
Within our project, imec uses a multitude of sensors to monitor the success of our climate adaptation measures. LoRa-based microclimate sensors monitor the impact of the urban transformation on temperature and humidity, whereas solar-powered air quality sensors developed by OnePlanet Research Center monitor traffic-related pollutant NO2.
Check out one of their key sensors – the “fluid sensor” – in the video below!