By: Franyi Sarmiento, Ph.D., Inspenet, June 10, 2022
Two astronomers from the University of Chile, Francisco Förster and Ricardo Finger, were inspired by two techniques to study the components of the cosmos, they developed a technological solution that makes it possible to detect CO₂ in closed spaces, analyze the data to offer solutions and, finally, stop the Covid-19.
One of the largest Chilean companies, the National Copper Corporation (Codelco), has purchased dozens of these state-of-the-art devices to install them in schools in Calama and Tocopilla, in the north of the country, near the main mining sites. . The company –the most important in the world in copper extraction– has installed 282 meters and 16 data centers in four schools in Calama and Tocopilla. According to calculations, it will directly impact 4,000 people, including students and teachers and, therefore, their respective families.
“The project was born from mixing two specialties within astronomy: on the one hand, the ability to produce and filter large streams of data to react to relevant events in real time, something that we use in the so-called astronomical brokers to detect explosive events such as supernovae; and, on the other hand, the ability to measure the concentration of molecules using spectroscopy, in this case CO₂, in the same way that astronomical observatories do to measure the presence of molecules in the universe”, explains Förster, an academic at the University from Chile and researcher at the Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) and the Center for Mathematical Modeling (CMM).
The scientist reports that the devices consist of a network of sensors that measure the concentration of CO₂, temperature and humidity in real time and that send the data via radio to a central station and then to the cloud via Wi-Fi. “We use very precise CO₂ sensors, which detect how infrared light is attenuated in an infrared region associated with the presence of CO₂ molecules,” adds Förster.
The company that makes the technological solution is called Flair and its CEO, Pablo Farah, explains that the platform is based on three fundamental principles that explain its unique impact. Starting with its indoor space adaptation engine that, by processing air quality data with artificial intelligence, generates objective recommendations. In this way, users can make specific and personalized decisions to improve the air quality in all their interior spaces and, therefore, generate well-being and health for all those who operate in those places on a daily basis.
Farah attaches fundamental importance to what he calls the democratization of information. “It is crucial to communicate both to those who manage and to those who operate in the spaces of the conditions of the place in which they are located,” says the CEO of Flair, who has already installed devices in eight organizations in Chile, including hospitals, universities , schools, cultural centers and community centers. He exemplifies this: “It seems essential to all of us that they notify us that we are drinking contaminated water. This is similar and just as relevant, but with the air”, reflects Farah, who points to a third aspect of the technological solution that is beginning to grow outside the Chilean borders. “The action and support of those who are in the interior spaces in which Flair operates,” adds Farah. It is one of the peculiarities of the technology, because, thanks to the information on the conditions of the spaces, users are able to take guided prevention and mitigation actions if necessary, complementing and enhancing the adaptation measures generated by the software. of artificial intelligence.
Förster assures that measuring the concentration of CO₂ appears as a powerful tool to prevent the spread of covid-19 and recalls that, recently, in schools in Italy the effect of properly ventilating classrooms was measured. The conclusion pointed out that active ventilation can reduce infections with respect to the case without ventilation by up to 83%. “In the experiment, infections are reported for different rates of air changes per hour, which can be translated into typical CO₂ concentrations. By doing the above, it is observed that the probability of contagion grows almost linearly with the excess of CO₂ and that, therefore, ventilation is a fundamental measure to combat the pandemic”, points out the Chilean astronomer.
Thanks to the 30 million independent measurements of CO₂, temperature and humidity, the Chilean technological solution has been able to detect patterns and reach conclusions that are relevant to combating the pandemic. For example, while schools have a maximum concentration at the start of classes –typically at eight in the morning–, shopping centers tend to have a maximum in the afternoon, that is, at eight in the evening. In Flair they have detected, in turn, that places with a high reaction capacity, such as schools, can self-manage ventilation: they react to local alarms and each time the non-recommended threshold is exceeded, a subsequent decrease in concentration is observed . The same is not true, however, in hospitals.
At a Chilean university, meanwhile, CO₂ monitoring proved to be an effective tool to optimize ventilation. Thanks to the technological solution, the rooms that reached non-recommended concentrations dropped from 45% to 0%. Therefore, it is estimated that the greater focus on ventilation made it possible to reduce the probability of contagion by 42% in those rooms with poor air quality.
This material from the DICYT Portal was edited for clarity, style and length.
DICYT Source: https://www.dicyt.com/noticias/cientificos-chilenos-desarrollan-un-nuevo-tipo-de-detectores-de-co2
Photo : UCHILE
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