Mobile Pollution Mapping in the City

Mobile computing has the potential to allow both experts and the public to collect and understand environmental data such as pollutants in urban areas. We describe an experimental system—eGS—that allows users to explore a city area while collaboratively visualising a common atmospheric pollutant— carbon monoxide—in real-time. Users carry a networked tablet PC. Using GPS and an attached sensor, a map shows pollutant values as a colourcoded trail as the user moves around the city. Users may take photographs of pollution-significant situations that are referenced against their current map location. Pollutant readings and photographs appear on all users’ maps as shared information for potential collaboration. We report on lessons learned and design issues arising from the implementation and us of this research prototype. In particular, we question some assumptions regarding the use of map-based representations with transient environmental information.