We are excited to share the latest deployment of uRADMonitor SMOGGIE-HEAT sensors in Vietnam, as part of a collaborative research initiative led by the prestigious Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble (INP Grenoble). This marks another important step in our commitment to supporting global scientific research and innovation in air quality monitoring.

About INP Grenoble

Located in the heart of the French Alps, INP Grenoble is one of France’s leading technological universities. Known for its strong focus on engineering and applied sciences, INP Grenoble is a member of the Grenoble INP group and is affiliated with Université Grenoble Alpes, one of Europe’s top research institutions. With a legacy of cutting-edge innovation and over 30 laboratories, INP Grenoble plays a key role in addressing modern-day challenges, including climate and environmental research.

The uRADMonitor® SMOGGIE®-HEAT

The SMOGGIE®-HEAT is an advanced environmental monitor developed in 2023 specially for the AIRLAB 2023 competition that was now adding a new test ground in Thailand, well known for its high humidity. It was designed to measure particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure (depending on the hardware version). What sets it apart is its built-in air heater, an innovation aimed at correcting humidity-induced measurement errors – a known weakness of most optical PM sensors.

During the AIRLAB 2023 Challenge, organised by Airparif and supported by leading environmental institutions, the SMOGGIE-HEAT was evaluated among dozens of air quality sensors. The results were impressive:
– Top-tier accuracy, with correlation scores above 90% for PM2.5 compared to reference stations.
– Excellent performance in varying climate conditions, showcasing the impact of the integrated air heater in improving measurement consistency.

The AIRLAB Jury said “the SMOGGIE-PM-HEAT is a newer version of the SMOGGIE that integrates a small heating system for high humidity enviromnents. It remains a very small and very lightweight sensor system targetting particle measurements for outdoor applications. It provided a similar accuracy performance to the basic SMOGGIE”.

The uRADMonitor SMOGGIE is a Winner of AIRLAB 2023:

Correcting Particulate Matter Errors with an Air Heater

Optical PM sensors often overestimate particulate levels in environments with high humidity. Water droplets scatter light similarly to solid particles, leading to false positive PM readings. This is especially problematic in tropical or subtropical regions like Vietnam.

The SMOGGIE-HEAT solves this by using a miniature air heater that conditions the air sample before it reaches the sensor. By slightly warming the air, the heater evaporates excess moisture, eliminating fog and mist particles that could distort the results. This leads to more reliable data, especially in humid environments.

This article on the uRADMonitor SMOGGIE-HEAT shows the humidity correction mechanism. Here is a chart comparison on compensated (green) vs uncompensated (red) readings:

🇻🇳 Supporting Research in Vietnam

A new batch of SMOGGIE-HEAT sensors has now been shipped to the final destination Vietnam, where they will be deployed by INP Grenoble as part of a long-term air quality study. To further support this initiative, uRADMonitor also donated a standard SMOGGIE unit (without the heater), allowing researchers to conduct comparative analyses between the two models.

This contribution aligns with uRADMonitor’s mission to empower scientists, researchers, and communities with accurate, affordable tools to monitor and understand their environment.

Whether it’s in the heart of Europe or the bustling cities of Southeast Asia, uRADMonitor sensors continue to make a difference , enabling smarter decisions through higher resolution data.

Stay tuned for updates on the project results from Vietnam! And of course, some photos once they get installed!