Current Research
SmartAir is leveraging dynamic feedback about air quality with community-crafted messaging to understand individual decision making. It relies on strong partnerships between the University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, Utah State University, Bear River Charter School, the Salt Lake City School District, Utah Clean Cities, and UCAIR. The project's complementary research focuses on social-norm messaging, cost-effective air quality measurements, vehicle idle detection, and system integration.
Social-norm messaging
We have been surveying the local community to understand which messages are most effective at changing behavior while not offending or provoking anger among community members. Based on initial surveys, several messages are anticipated to have a positive effect on idling. The most effective messages include social norm messages and images of vulnerable individuals.
Air quality measurements
A cost effective air-quality measurement package is being developed, based on the University of Utah's AirU platform. These packages are being rigorously calibrated in the laboratory and field. The team is also developing effective screening strategies to address outliers, which occur periodically with low-cost sensor technologies.
Vehicle idle detection
We are developing robust image processing techniques to quantify the number of vehicles in a drop off/pick up zone. See our preliminary video.
System integration
The air quality measurements, vehicle detection and idle quantification are being dynamically integrated, screened and combined with social-norm messaging to understand the effect of dynamic feedback on driver behavior. This strategy is inspired by digital speed displays, which are effective at reducing speeding and accidents.