Validating a Cycle-Based IoT Sensor for Mapping Intra-Urban Air Temperature and Humidity

Abstract

Crowdsourced weather data has been increasingly used to provide the input data for the boundary conditions in the microclimate models as well as to validate the modelling outputs. MeteoTracker (MT) is an Internet of Things (IoT) application for domestic vehicles that can contribute to the intra-urban air temperature database for meteorology enthusiasts as well as research and design communities. To promote green and healthy mobility, we have validated the MT device on bicycles and evaluated its monitoring performance with 2 other Kestrel heat stress trackers (KT) at low travelling/wind speed. The pre-planned cycling route cuts through the EUR district in Rome, Italy in September 2021. The dual-sensor design and the radiation error correct system (RECS) in the MT devices demonstrate good abilities in probing air temperature and humidity nuances when passing through different urban areas, as the three devices remain highly synchronised (Pearson r > 0.86). However, the MT device may overshoot the response time (> 41 s) if the cycling speed is less than 3 m/s. We have suggested some strategies for improvement in reducing the response time of probing the ambience under nuanced thermal variability.