Monitoring networks and autonomous platforms for odor impact assessment using electronic noses

Reduction of the emission of unpleasant smell is a priority for branches of industry which introduce odorous compounds to the atmosphere.

However, it is also necessary to provide verification of effectiveness of these efforts via monitoring of odor intensity.

Dynamic olfactometry is the most popular method of odor measurements, but instrumental methods are increasingly applied for monitoring and evaluation of unpleasant smells generated by different fields of human activity. Electronic noses (e-nose) belongs to dynamically developing instrumental techniques which utilizes holistic analysis.

Different ways in which an e-nose can be used for assessment of odor nuisance are monitoring networks, autonomous pltaforms (robots, drones, etc.) and portable devices.

Although, installation of e-noses on these platforms is a very interesting way for investigation of air quality such experiment are rarely carried out due to the sensors response drift in time and too low sensitivity of these devices. These drawbacks are still fundamental problems connected to the sensors comprising the electronic nose instruments.

Nanotechnology provides means to solve these problems. The researcher will develop an innovative e-nose for odor nuisance assesment based on nanotechnology.

The e-nose will be validated and implemented on monitoring stations and mobile platformes for long term monitoring of odor intensity and fast localisation the source of the odor nuisance, respectively.