{"title":"Evaluating Indoor Low-Cost Particle Sensors: Algorithmic Insights and Calibration Approaches","authors":"Nan Ma, Ye Kang, Weiduo Gan, Jin Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s40726-025-00372-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose of Review</h3><p>Low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors are increasingly used for indoor air quality monitoring due to their affordability and ease of deployment. However, concerns persist regarding the reliability of their built-in processing functions and the accuracy of their data. This study evaluates the performance of 30 Plantower PMS5003 sensors across three distinct indoor environments—Ex_Normal (typical occupied office space), Ex_Incense (space with anthropogenic particle emissions), and Ex_Bushfire (space affected by outdoor air pollution). The primary aim is to improve data reliability by examining the sensors’ internal processing algorithms and identifying effective calibration models.</p><h3>Recent Findings</h3><p>Piecewise linear regression analysis revealed two key internal functions within the sensor: one for converting particle number to mass and another for adjusting based on particle type. Three calibration models—Log-Linear (LN), non-Log-Linear (nLN), and Random Forest (RF)—were evaluated. All models showed improvements over raw sensor data in terms of coefficient of determination (<i>r</i><sup>2</sup>), root mean square error (RMSE), mean normalized bias (MNB), and coefficient of variation (CV), with particularly notable enhancements in RMSE (up to 64%), MNB (up to 70%), and CV (over 50%).</p><h3>Summary</h3><p>Although all three calibration models significantly improved data quality, no substantial differences were observed among them. The LN model is recommended for its simplicity and comparable performance. These findings contribute to improving algorithmic processing in low-cost sensors and offer practical guidance for end-users seeking to enhance sensor reliability in indoor air quality monitoring applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":528,"journal":{"name":"Current Pollution Reports","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40726-025-00372-8.pdf","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Pollution Reports","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40726-025-00372-8","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose of Review
Low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors are increasingly used for indoor air quality monitoring due to their affordability and ease of deployment. However, concerns persist regarding the reliability of their built-in processing functions and the accuracy of their data. This study evaluates the performance of 30 Plantower PMS5003 sensors across three distinct indoor environments—Ex_Normal (typical occupied office space), Ex_Incense (space with anthropogenic particle emissions), and Ex_Bushfire (space affected by outdoor air pollution). The primary aim is to improve data reliability by examining the sensors’ internal processing algorithms and identifying effective calibration models.
Recent Findings
Piecewise linear regression analysis revealed two key internal functions within the sensor: one for converting particle number to mass and another for adjusting based on particle type. Three calibration models—Log-Linear (LN), non-Log-Linear (nLN), and Random Forest (RF)—were evaluated. All models showed improvements over raw sensor data in terms of coefficient of determination (r2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean normalized bias (MNB), and coefficient of variation (CV), with particularly notable enhancements in RMSE (up to 64%), MNB (up to 70%), and CV (over 50%).
Summary
Although all three calibration models significantly improved data quality, no substantial differences were observed among them. The LN model is recommended for its simplicity and comparable performance. These findings contribute to improving algorithmic processing in low-cost sensors and offer practical guidance for end-users seeking to enhance sensor reliability in indoor air quality monitoring applications.
期刊介绍:
Current Pollution Reports provides in-depth review articles contributed by international experts on the most significant developments in the field of environmental pollution.By presenting clear, insightful, balanced reviews that emphasize recently published papers of major importance, the journal elucidates current and emerging approaches to identification, characterization, treatment, management of pollutants and much more.