The Environmental Monitor monitors particulate matter, noise and odors

Leading the way
Lohmeijer and his colleagues at KITT Engineering took the lead in designing the monitor and developing the basic software from the start. “The trick is to go from a ‘nice idea’ to a physical product that people are happy with and that can be produced in a short time,” Lohmeijer explains. “That is a challenging process. The first step is to determine the technical specifications. Only then can you start thinking about the design and the housing.”

The success of the gadget depends on the quality of the sensors, Lohmeijer explains. “They have to be sensitive enough to pick up the desired environmental signals and filter out unwanted influences. At the same time, the costs must not get out of hand; after all, we are giving the gadget away for free at the trade fair. That is why we ultimately decided to offer the particulate matter option for a fee.”

Hack yourself
“The software was deliberately built in an open source environment so that people can modify and hack it themselves,” says Lohmeijer. “For legal reasons, it is referred to as a ‘monitor’ and not as a measuring device. If you claim that you are marketing a measuring instrument, you will have to deal with complex regulations regarding tolerances and calibrations. We do not want to go that far. But if you attach an environmental monitor near an existing measuring point, it does provide fine-grained information.”

Circular
The monitor is intended for low-threshold home use. Lohmeijer: “You can easily connect the gadget to a power supply, configure it and give it a personal name in a portal, for example 'Grandpa Hans's kitchen'. This makes it possible to monitor a specific room remotely. This way you can keep an eye on the kitchen from your holiday address. These types of functionalities increase the usability and relevance of the gadget.”

Sustainability translates not only into long-term use, but also into the production of the gadget. “We use sustainable materials and ensure that the product is circular,” says Lohmeijer. “It is possible to take the gadget apart and recycle it. As far as I’m concerned, you take the entire gadget apart and use the electronics for other purposes. As long as it doesn’t end up in the trash.”

Pride
The first prototype is now ready and the validated design is expected to be delivered at the end of July. "The gadget will be produced in the first half of September," Lohmeijer says proudly. "We hope that the final product will be hung up all over the Netherlands and that the communities take over the support after the fair. That would be great.”