Blanca Ríos, researcher at the Hémera Center, will lead an four-month innovative project aimed at designing and validating a low-cost system to measure, in real time, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in households with different types of heating, such as wood stoves, kerosene heaters, and electric systems. The research seeks to evaluate indoor air quality in Chilean homes and generate evidence to support public policies focused on environmental health and the replacement of polluting heating systems.

The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Universidad Autónoma de Chile, with contributions from experts in mechatronics and software, and with the participation of undergraduate and graduate students from Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology.

While the initial plan was to build the sensors from scratch, the team opted instead to acquire commercially available devices and focus development efforts on creating software capable of collecting, transmitting, and analyzing air quality data from multiple households. The sensors will be equipped with LCD displays so that residents can monitor air quality inside their homes in real time.

The study will involve the installation of sensors in homes in southern Chile, specifically in Punta Arenas, where low temperatures ensure constant use of heating systems throughout the year. Both laboratory and real-world validations of the system will be conducted to assess the accuracy of the measurements and to generate reliable data on indoor air pollution.

The evidence obtained will provide a deeper understanding of how different heating systems affect indoor air quality and will help design more effective public policies on environmental health. In addition, the project aims to develop a sustainable business model for domestic environmental monitoring, with potential for national and regional scalability.

“We want people to be able to monitor the air quality in their homes and understand how it varies depending on the type of heating they use,” explains Ríos.