On November 13, 2018, AirParif, Paris’ air monitoring agency, announced their results after three months of technology evaluation in Paris. AIRLAB’s “2018 Microsensor Challenge” consisted of a comprehensive evaluation of 29 sensor solutions from participating companies, examining and validating 41 parameters for 12 pollutants by a jury of air quality and sensor technology experts. AirParif conveyed that over 51 million data points were processed as part of the months-long testing.
Clarity was able to demonstrate the significant advantages of our technology as the highest scoring outdoor air monitoring solution. The evaluation report highlighted several positive solution features, including the innovative Smart Calibration algorithm and user-friendly hardware design, noting that “the device is easy to install, discreet but with a nice design, and the possibility of installing a solar panel is a plus”.
In individual categories, Clarity scored highest for both ergonomics and relevance, and came in at a close second for accuracy and cost. These impressive scores allotted by Airparif and partners allowed Clarity to successfully come out on top with the highest cumulative results in the outdoor sensors group.
Synergies between IoT and sensor technology has spurred governments to explore the viability of adopting low cost sensors, notably reflected in the growing number of experimentation and pilot networks in major cities around the world. As one of the leading cities in air quality management, Paris is a key driver in global interest in low-cost sensors as technology breakthroughs continue to magnify the value of affordable, distributed air monitoring networks.
With this AIRLAB Challenge, we are seeing scientific validation of low-cost sensors as a complementary source of air quality data to existing government monitoring solutions. The adoption strategy, as proposed by AirParif, is to focus on performance and application, identifying best in class products and best-fit applications. AirParif has identified regulatory and mobility applications, as well as personal exposure assessment for exploration — areas that Clarity is already actively developing.