Yared Godine and I have installed the first four permanent PM2.5 measurement locations in Arba Minch. The locations are part of a planned low-cost measurement network. We have installed SPSA sensor systems at the Arba Minch University (AMU) main campus gate, at the AMU Kulfo campus gate, in the Limat neighborhood, and at the main commercial bank (CBE) compound in the center of Arba Minch. The sensor system measures PM2.5, relative humidity and temperature on a one-minute frequency. It stores the data on an SD card.
We plan to install sensors at six other locations over the coming weeks. The locations will be at the main hospital, at the bus station, in some neighborhoods, and near to a busy road.
Low-cost installation
A low-cost measurement network goes further than merely using low-cost sensors. We have conducted low-cost field installation as well. Yared Godine, staff of Meteorology and Hydrology, has many years experience with setting up weather stations. He is incredibly creative with waste materials, and has good connections with workshops at Arba Minch University. The following are some of the ideas that went into the field installation:
- Protective boxes were created from unused computer stand carts;
- Discarded metal sheets and pieces were used for rain protection and hanging the boxes;
- Individual copper wires of discarded internet cables were used to make power available.
Yared’s connections at the workshops made for quick metal work, and interested audience at the installation locations made for helpful support. The final ‘costs’ for installation were approximately 400ETB ($3.50) for a shared lunch and coffee.
Low-cost operation
With staff from different faculties, we aim to run the measurement network with student science. Students from electrical engineering, meteorology and hydrology, environmental sciences and environmental health will maintain instruments and collect, process and analyze measurement data, as part of their respective courses.