Application of the Correction Function to Improve the Quality of PM Measurements with Low-Cost Devices

Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Building Services, Hydro and Environmental Engineering, 20 Nowowiejska St., 00-653 Warsaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: Mariusz.Rogulski@pw.edu.pl

Abstract

Reliable information on the particulate matter (PM) concentration in the air is provided by professional, reference measuring devices. In recent times, however, measuring devices using low-cost PM sensors have been gaining more and more popularity. Low-cost PM sensors are not as accurate as professional devices and can under certain circumstances significantly distort results. Therefore comparative measurements with professional devices and the determination of the corrective function are necessary. The article presents the results of tests on the accuracy of measurements made with the use of such sensors after applying a correction function. The form of the correction function was determined based on several months of comparative tests low-cost sensors with reference device. Then, for a different set of low-cost sensors, a correction function was applied and again, during several months of research, the measurement results were compared with a reference device. This made it possible to determine the real measurement uncertainty of this type of equipment, as well as the need to support measurements using earlier comparative tests. Results showed, that for analysed low-cost PM sensors and correction function measurement error was about 15%.