^2012-08-23

52°North's interest in citizen science becomes more focused with its recent commitment to the Air Quality Egg movement. Together with the Institute for Geoinformatics (ifgi), 52°North is initiator of the Muenster Air Quality Egg Community - the first community in the world to receive a considerable number of "eggs" to set up a sensing network. A "hands-on" workshop is planned on September 14 & 15, 2012 at ifgi.

The Air Quality Egg is a "community-led air quality sensing network that gives people a way to participate in the conversation about air quality". It is also "a sensor system designed to allow anyone to collect very high resolution readings of NO2 and CO concentrations outside of their home". The "eggs" are inexpensive DIY sensors which capture real-time readings of these two gases. The current system comprises outdoor sensors, an egg base station and an open data service for storing and providing free access to the data. 52°North, with its partner network of experts in sensor networks and air quality modeling, is interested in the service integration of data aspect. The logical consequence was that 52°North and the Institute for Geoinformatics (ifgi) join the movement and initiate the local Muenster Air Quality Egg Community. This community is the first in the world to receive a considerable number of "eggs" to be used to set up a sensing network in Muenster. Jointly they host Muenster's first Air Quality Egg Workshop from September 14 - 15, 2012.