Presenter: Alex Cabral (she/her) ,  Ph.D,  Postdoctoral Fellow at Georgia Tech

Inviting Professor: Prof. Dr. Anna Förster

Abstract:

Communities are increasingly exposed to environmental hazards but lack comprehensive data to monitor their hyperlocal environments, in part due to the geographic sparsity of regulatory monitors. Although low-cost, commercially available environmental sensors have created new opportunities for underserved areas, much of the research using these sensors is conducted in isolation and focused on small-scale studies. In this talk, I will outline two case studies that address these shortcomings  –  1) Eclipse: a 118-node air quality sensor network co-designed with city and community partners in Chicago, and 2) Noondawind: a sensing and data integration platform co-designed with Native American Nations to monitor environmental factors affecting the growth of Manoomin (wild rice), a vital cultural and economic resource for the Ojibwe people. I will discuss three key stages of these projects: hardware design, strategic sensor placement within urban spaces, and the creation of data visualizations and I will reflect on the successes, challenges, and lessons learned throughout these projects, emphasizing technical limitations, data sovereignty, and respect for local knowledge. This work contributes to a vision that integrates cyberinfrastructure, scientific research, and community collaboration to foster long-term sustainability across global communities.