Developed by
How important is natural light? Which kind of negative effects can excess light inflicts on the natural environment? How many species are affected by light pollution?
Light pollution is a serious thing, with enormous negative effects on the environment, the economy, and the population. It as been scientifically proven, for instance, that human pathologies such as insomnia or stress can be related to light
excess.
Experts on the topic are confident that light pollution matters and it has to be drastically reduced. High-level organisations share this worry. The United Nations named the 2015 the International Year of Light in order to foster the debate on the topic improving citizens’ awareness.
Building on the relevancy of the topic, STARS4ALL is in the first line to fight against light pollution. STARS4ALL is creating a structured community of people aware of the problem and ready to fight against it. The community will be created through the engagement of all potentially interested people, from amateurs to experts, in activities such as games, seminars, events and the streaming of astronomical events.
We all live under the same sky, so why don’t share the same community?
Description of the outcome
Make a picture: monitor air pollution!
hackAIR developed different tools that are all connected one each other. First of all the hackAIR platform: it is a location-based citizen science platform offering users a map-based interface to open or crowdsourced data on the air quality in their neighbourhood. The data about air quality can come from the hackAIR app, or by low-cost sensors.
hackAir sensors: Thorith them users can build their own air quality sensors to monitor the local air quality. The project developed different sensor kits, using open hardware, with a cost for a citizens than span from 30 to 50 Euro. The different typologies of sensors and related tutorials are available here: hackair.eu/tutorials
hackAIR app allows citizens to have a rough estimation of the air pollution levels in their location by making a simple picture. Users submit photos of the sky, after which an algorithm gives a rough estimate of air pollution levels in real time. The app make also accessible the hackAIR platform with all the data coming from sensors if available in the selected location.
Users can download the App for iOS and Android systems respectively.
What you need to use it
For using the hackAir platform an internet access is sufficient. For the App, a user will need a mobile phone, while for building the sensors a set of low-cost materials is needed. On this, detailed tutorials and videos: hackair.eu/tutorials
Do you want to contribute?
Developers can access documentation and code source on dedicated GitHub pages. The access point for all the outputs would be the dedicated project page at: hackair.eu/docs
Collective Awareness Platforms for Sustainability and Social Innovation (CAPSSI) is manage by the Coordination and Support Action CHiC project which is funded under Grant Agreement No. 687686 by the European Commission.