City Scanner

A helpful tool developed at MIT, City Scanner proposes a solution in the form of a mobile low-cost vehicle sensor that allows for the drive-by collection of various environmental data. City Scanner was first deployed in the City of Cambridge, where it was able to collect 1.6 million data points. City Scanner currently has three sensing node prototypes, the Greta I (2017), Greta II (2018), and Blackburn (2019).

This tool will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

Less Contamination
Less Emissions
Less Traffic Noise
Connectivity and Inclusion
Healthy Destinations
Less Traffic Violence
Active Transportation
Green Space

Estimation Technique

City Scanner utilizes low-cost sensors mounted on trash trucks to collect data such as thermal images, temperature and humidity levels, as well as air quality and road qualty data. City Scanner can count the amount of particulate matter in the air—including PM10, PM2.5, and PM1—using a small laser. City Scanner gathers information on road quality through sensing vehicle vibrations, which can be used to inform road improvement projects in cities. In turn, roadway improvement projects can improve road user safety and decrease urban noise levels.