C3 is a primary applicator of Ecosystem Informatics (ESI’s) AI powered air quality monitoring system. These compact, stationary or mobile devices generate continuously calibrated, accurate and sophisticated air quality data which is transmitted to a user-friendly, secure dashboard. ESI’s AI data calibration algorithms are trained to calibrate, fit and process data according to the specific monitoring context, and minimize the hardware and power costs associated with conventional monitoring equipment.

Research for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation beginning in 2016 identified sensor instability as a major drawback of conventional air monitoring systems. Using their background in AI and telecommunications, ESI developed calibration software to overcome this limitation, eliminating the need for the hardware required in standard systems to maintain sensor stability, and allowing ESI units to be smaller, mobile (if desired) and require less power.

Continuous improvements to various aspects of hardware durability, stability and reliability are ongoing, as well as in data analytics and visualisation.

ESI low profile sampling devices (approximately 50 cm x 50 cmx 15 cm, 1 to 2 kg), DC/battery or solar operated, transmit data directly to the cloud using wired, cellular (or) Wi-Fi networks. The samplers can be installed as stationary point monitors, but are well-suited for use on moving vehicles. After calibration, the data is transmitted to and visualised on secure web-based dashboards tailored for the end-user. Alerts and/or alarms can be integrated into the system.

Currently up to 5 concentration sensors and three meteorological sensors can be installed in a single unit. Parameters continuously and simultaneously monitored can include particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM4 and PM10), meteorological factors (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure), organic gases such as methane, propane, and benzene, carbon emissions (CO and CO2), nitrogen emissions (including NO2 and ammonia), hydrogen sulfide, ozone, chlorine, and oxygen.

Check out some Case Histories Here

• Monitoring during civil/infrastructure construction

• Remediation monitoring

• Health and Safety monitoring (can be enabled with alerts, alarm systems)

• Operational/compliance/fence line monitoring (can be enabled with exceedance alerts)

• Generation of site-specific background, start-up and operational data for Environmental Impact Assessments

• GHG/carbon emissions monitoring

• Industrial and municipal transportation emission assessments

• Geological leak detection

Small footprint, durable hardware

Data collection on moving vehicles enables dynamic data collection over a large geographical area

Cost-effective operating costs due to lower power requirements and longer power supply life.

Real-time data can be compared instantaneously to emission criteria

Real-time alerts can be integrated into end-user Health and Safety and regulatory compliance platforms

Air quality can be generated at a detailed local level via a network of moving and stationary sensors

Web-based, secure, user-friendly dashboard output is tailored to the end user, and can include multiple spatial ‘heat maps’ of key parameters

Data output can be tailored for input into a variety of modelling software (e.g., MOVES, CAL3, AERMOD etc.)

Most of our applications involve subscription-based services, where we install and maintain the device hardware, allowing our clients to avoid related capital cost expenditures. We assume responsibility for data collection and calibration, and provide the resulting client-specified data sets and graphics in raw form and/or visualised on a secure dashboard. The subscription fee (monthly or annual) for the entire service is based on number of units, field location, type of sensors, and degree of data manipulation/visualization required.

Data was collected for a period of nearly 1 year from an ESI test unit placed next to an Environment Canada station in southern Ontario. The data was calibrated using ESI’s AI algorithms and compared to Environment Canada data. Excellent agreement was observed between the two units for the contaminants monitored:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO)

• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

• Ozone (O3)

• Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)