New Grant: Received a grant from the Halton Foundation to study low-cost indoor air quality sensors

Dr. Jialei Shen has received a two-year grant from the Halton Foundation to advance a comprehensive project aimed at improving the reliability and usability of low-cost indoor air quality sensors. The project will develop standardized test methods, a rigorous performance evaluation framework, and an open-access database that compiles both published findings and new experimental data on sensors that measure key indoor pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants are central to indoor environmental health, and accurate monitoring is essential because people spend nearly 90% of their time indoors.

The project includes a systematic review of existing studies and datasets on low-cost sensor performance and will synthesize information on accuracy, sensitivity, stability, detection limits, response time, and environmental interferences. Building on this foundation, Dr. Shen’s team will design a standardized test method tailored to realistic indoor conditions, using controlled environmental chamber experiments to evaluate selected low-cost sensors against high-precision reference instruments. A unified performance database will be created to serve researchers, engineers, policymakers, and community organizations seeking evidence-based guidance for sensor selection and deployment.

In addition to the scientific contributions, the project also aims to integrate community and educational outreach activities. In partnership with historically polluted and underserved neighborhoods in Birmingham, the project will expand access to indoor air quality monitoring by distributing validated low-cost sensors to residents and collaborating with local schools to deliver hands-on STEM programs related to air quality and environmental health. These efforts aim to empower students and households with actionable knowledge while addressing longstanding environmental health disparities.

The Halton Foundation grant provides $30,000 per year for two years, with the second year contingent on completion of first-year deliverables. Funding will support the development of evaluation guidelines, environmental chamber testing, database creation, and dissemination of findings. The Halton Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving indoor environmental quality and supports research and solutions that advance healthier indoor environments globally.