Customer

Building Physics and Services (BPS) Group, Department of Built Environment.

Dr. Ir. Mariëlle Aarts

Description

The customer desired a measurement device to be used by students following the bachelor Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Science. The device should enable them to identify typical values for the indoor and outdoor climate in order to develop insight in the relationship between their own perception (senses) and the typical quality indicators (sensors). The device had to measure temperature, relative humidity, illuminance and sound pressure level. It had to be able to read out the measured values live as well as to take samples at intervals over a longer period and store them for later analysis. To provide each student with their own loan device, the request was for a total of 300 units.

The device is designed around a ESP32 micro controller. The sensors consists of a I2C temperature/humidity sensor, a I2C illuminance sensor and a I2S microphone. A micro SD card slot allows for the insertion of a memory card. The device can be powered from batteries or via the USB-C connector. To reduce cost a housing was omitted. A PMMA front and back cover protects the device during use. Custom firmware provides the necessary functionality.

The EPS32 Bluetooth is used to interface with a smartphone. An app is developed for Android, as well as for iOS that displays live data and allows for the configuration of a data collection scheme. The apps are available from the Google Play store and the Apple App store respectively.