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Collaboration at the Heart of Innovation: The IDEAL Cluster’s Collocation Study on Indoor Air Quality

Photos of Indoor Setting and Equipment for Collocation Study

As part of its mission to improve and safeguard the health and well-being of citizens in indoor environments, the IDEAL Cluster, including the EDIAQI project has launched a collocation study. 

This initiative seeks to compare the performance of low-cost air quality sensors with high-end, sophisticated equipment, aiming to determine whether affordable sensors can accurately reflect the indoor environment. The study plays a crucial role in expanding the tools available for indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring across Europe.

The IDEAL Cluster is a group of 7 European Project, including the EDIAQI project, that aims to address knowledge gaps in indoor and outdoor air pollution. It focuses on understanding the environmental, occupational, and socio-economic risk factors posed by air pollution that most impact societal well-being. This includes both chemical and microbiological determinants of air pollution in indoor environments.

The Collocation Study: Testing Low-Cost Sensors

During the study, sensors will be positioned within a household, carefully placed at a uniform height and at consistent distances from pollution sources. Both indoor and outdoor environments will be monitored simultaneously, with low-cost and high-end reference sensors being exposed to identical conditions.

 

Floor Plan of Indoor Setting for Collocation Study

The study aims to gather data across a variety of real-life scenarios, such as:

  • Candles burning
  • Air diffusers in action
  • Use of gas stoves
  • Human presence and activity, including exercising on a rowing machine
  • Car exhaust from the garden
  • Cleaning activities
  • Opening and closing of doors and windows

The events are documented with precise timestamps, while sensors and cameras collect data every minute, allowing a detailed analysis of how each event affects air quality.

A Pan European Effort

This study is being led by Ascalia d.o.o. (Croatia), the leader of the pilot of the EDIAQI project, with participation from a diverse range of sensor and instruments provided by:

This pan European collaboration ensures that the research benefits from a wide range of expertise, enhancing the quality and relevance of the results.

Collaboration Driving Success

This study exemplifies the IDEAL Cluster's belief that great research requires great collaboration. Organisations from across Europe have joined forces to conduct this study, ensuring that it delivers reliable, impactful results. Through initiatives like this collocation study, the IDEAL Cluster continues to lead the way in advancing IAQ research, helping to develop innovative solutions that protect public health across Europe.

Stay tuned for the full release of the study’s findings and data, which will be available for public access in the near future.