Citizen Science: Enabling Participatory Urbanism summarizes research on using mobile phones to collect environmental data through citizen participation. Mobile phones are increasingly equipped with sensors that can measure air quality, noise levels, temperature and more. Two studies are described: 1) interviews found people have limited understanding of air quality and don't trust government data; and 2) taxis and students in Accra were equipped with sensors to log air quality data. Prototype systems attached sensors to mobile phones to collect data on various pollutants. The research aims to transform mobile phones into tools for participatory sensing and sharing real-time environmental conditions data.

1. Citizen Science: Enabling Participatory Urbanism Paul Aoki, R.J. Honicky, Alan Mainwaring, Chris Myers, Eric Paulos, Sushmita Subramanian, and Allison Woodruff Demonstartion Submission UbiComp , September 2008 (to appear)

9. Study 2: Air Quality Sensing Field Study

11. Research Prototype Platforms GOIN' MOBILE: THE STREET SWEEPER DEPLOYMENT' GOIN ' Street Sweeper gas sensor board, a fan main board and a mobile phone

12. Research Prototype Platforms

13. AQI Maroon Hazardous 301 to 500 Purple Very Unhealthy 201 to 300 Red Unhealthy 151 to 200 Orange Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101 to 150 Yellow Moderate 51 to 100 Green Good 0 to 50 ...as symbolized by this color: ...air quality conditions are: When the AQI is in this range: Colors Levels of Health Concern Air Quality Index (AQI) Values

15. Interacting With Air Quality Measurements

16. Interacting With Air Quality Measurements

17. Interacting With Air Quality Measurements