Frome Town Council have asked for our help in monitoring the effect on air quality of their Safer School Streets trial. This is due to run for 18 months from April 2024, with the aim of encouraging active travel and reducing car use, particularly around the school run.
FTC would like to site several (perhaps about a dozen?) sensors in the areas covered by the trial to see how the air quality is affected by the hoped-for changes in behaviour. This needs to start as soon as possible in order to build up a ‘before’ picture.
There are 2 parts to this:
Relocate some of the existing monitors that are no longer needed in their current locations, and
Build some more: FTC would like us to quote for building 10 more from scratch.
For 1, I’ve contacted several of the hosts from our monitor-building workshop, to see whether they’d like us to relocate their monitor. This has yielded 2 or 3 monitors for relocation.
For 2, we need an up to date list of components with prices (10-off) and lead times for ordering them. If the resulting cost is OK with FTC we would then need to go ahead and build them, either ourselves or in the form of another workshop.
(Oakfield School have a keen and active STEM club and they have already been doing some air-quality-related projects, so they might be interested in getting involved.)
We could also do with some help with visualising and interpreting all this data. Possibly the publicity around Safer Streets will tempt a data scientist and/or air quality expert out into the open!
I’ll chase down the monitors for relocation. Any offers of help in other areas – updating the costs, building/upgrading monitors, printing off the plastic parts, participating in a workshop, etc. – gratefully received!
I’ve collected a couple of monitors that were no longer being used. Once they’ve been updated they can be re-deployed for Safer school Streets
Katie at FTC is keen to get some more monitors built, so as a first step we need an up-to-date BoM and estimated cost.
From Katie:
"Just wanted to touch base with you with regards to ordering new parts, lead times etc. I’m keen to get things moving, especially if there might be a bit of a wait. We are still hopeful that the scheme will start on 15th April and so, would be great to get some data before then. The Somerscience Festival, in which Oakfield pupils hope to participate, is on 6th May, so I’ll need to give them something definitive soon.
“Anything I can do to assist with gathering existing sensors or ordering parts, please let me know.”
Firstly, thanks so much for your kind offers to help with printing, building and workshops. Much appreciated! The STEM club at Oakfield Academy are a great bunch. They’re really thirsty to learn and very excited about this project.
As Al mentioned, I’m really keen to get going with this asap. We really need to have a good bank of data prior to the Easter holidays to make the project worthwhile for Our School Streets evaluation.
Is someone please able to advise on how we order parts, the cost and the lead time?
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you, I’ve been reasonably busy lately.
I’m working based on my understanding of an aim is for 10 devices for this project.
After going through some returned devices, reusing parts & gathering components we already have, several complete or near complete devices (some needing 3D prints, powers adapters, some missing more components).
I’ll aim to get up to date costing of components/consumables for the remaining build this week.
I don’t believe we’re missing any components that are only available on long lead times, but will need to confirm. The 3D printed parts have some delay due to the time taken to print, but it’s hours per print, not days, so more dependent on availability of reliable printers & filament.
If there are any parts on offer, or looking like there is a lead time, I’ll order them ASAP.
I also still need to test/program/setup the data side for all of these as they’re completed, so they’re ready to be deployed.
I think last time we did components at cost, with no direct charge for work done, but a suggested contribution to help keep Tech Shed running.
——
In the meantime, a bit of info which may help with activities for students:
We use opensensemap.org to store our data, so (aside from our visualisations on cleanairfrome.org) there will be raw data available if needed.
Depending on what level the STEM club are at, they may be able to use opensensemap’s API to pull in data for their own projects.
I’ve ordered all the parts to meet 10 units, with the exception of 3D printer filament.
Latest delivery is currently on the 26th Feb - if it looks like that date will be missed, were may have to order from more expensive suppliers with UK stock, but I’m hopeful we’re covered.
Curtis Shaddick who runs the STEM club at Oakfield has suggested Friday 15th (ideally) or Friday 22nd March for a workshop from 3-4pm to build sensors. Do either of these work for you? I can attend either (or both) with you.
Is the air quality sensor able to distinguish between types of particles? For example, can it distinguish between smoke particles and pollen or fungal spores?
Can it detect water mist / fog?
