Nalakurthi Naga Venkata Sudha Rani, Abimbola Ismaila, Ahmed Tasneem, Anton Iulia, Riaz Khurram, Ibrahim Qusai, Banerjee Arghadyuti, Tiwari Ananya, Gharbia Salem
Smart Earth Innovation Hub (Earth-Hub), Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland.
Sensors (Basel). 2024 Jun 5;24(11):3650. doi: 10.3390/s24113650.
The use of low-cost environmental sensors has gained significant attention due to their affordability and potential to intensify environmental monitoring networks. These sensors enable real-time monitoring of various environmental parameters, which can help identify pollution hotspots and inform targeted mitigation strategies. Low-cost sensors also facilitate citizen science projects, providing more localized and granular data, and making environmental monitoring more accessible to communities. However, the accuracy and reliability of data generated by these sensors can be a concern, particularly without proper calibration. Calibration is challenging for low-cost sensors due to the variability in sensing materials, transducer designs, and environmental conditions. Therefore, standardized calibration protocols are necessary to ensure the accuracy and reliability of low-cost sensor data. This review article addresses four critical questions related to the calibration and accuracy of low-cost sensors. Firstly, it discusses why low-cost sensors are increasingly being used as an alternative to high-cost sensors. In addition, it discusses self-calibration techniques and how they outperform traditional techniques. Secondly, the review highlights the importance of selectivity and sensitivity of low-cost sensors in generating accurate data. Thirdly, it examines the impact of calibration functions on improved accuracies. Lastly, the review discusses various approaches that can be adopted to improve the accuracy of low-cost sensors, such as incorporating advanced data analysis techniques and enhancing the sensing material and transducer design. The use of reference-grade sensors for calibration and validation can also help improve the accuracy and reliability of low-cost sensor data. In conclusion, low-cost environmental sensors have the potential to revolutionize environmental monitoring, particularly in areas where traditional monitoring methods are not feasible. However, the accuracy and reliability of data generated by these sensors are critical for their successful implementation. Therefore, standardized calibration protocols and innovative approaches to enhance the sensing material and transducer design are necessary to ensure the accuracy and reliability of low-cost sensor data.
低成本环境传感器因其价格实惠以及增强环境监测网络的潜力而备受关注。这些传感器能够实时监测各种环境参数，有助于识别污染热点并为有针对性的缓解策略提供信息。低成本传感器还推动了公民科学项目的开展，提供更本地化、更细化的数据，使社区更容易参与环境监测。然而，这些传感器生成的数据的准确性和可靠性可能令人担忧，尤其是在没有进行适当校准的情况下。由于传感材料、传感器设计和环境条件的差异，低成本传感器的校准具有挑战性。因此，需要标准化校准协议来确保低成本传感器数据的准确性和可靠性。这篇综述文章探讨了与低成本传感器校准和准确性相关的四个关键问题。首先，讨论了为何低成本传感器越来越多地被用作高成本传感器的替代品；此外，还讨论了自校准技术及其优于传统技术之处。其次，综述强调了低成本传感器在生成准确数据方面的选择性和灵敏度的重要性；第三，研究了校准函数对提高准确性的影响；最后探讨了可采用的各种提高低成本传感器准确性的方法，如采用先进数据分析技术以及改进传感材料和传感器设计。使用参考级传感器进行校准和验证也有助于提高低成本传感器数据的准确性和可靠性。总之，低成本环境传感器有潜力彻底改变环境监测，特别是在传统监测方法不可行的领域。然而这些传感器生成数据的准确性和可靠性对于其成功应用至关重要；因此，需要标准化校准协议以及创新方法来改进传感材料和传感器设计，以确保低成本传感器数据的准确性和可靠性。
