Difference between revisions of "Introduction"

Revision as of 12:35, 8 June 2026

Introduction

The bcMeter is a source-available optical absorption photometer designed to measure Black Carbon (BC) aerosols — commonly known as soot — in real-time. The design is freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0); assembled instruments are offered on request. Whether you are monitoring ambient air quality in your neighborhood or measuring direct emissions from wood stoves, this device provides scientific-grade data at a fraction of the cost of reference instruments.

The device operates "headless" — it has no built-in screen. Instead, it hosts its own website that you can access from any smartphone or computer connected to the same network.

The software is source-available — freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0): github.com/dahljo/bcmeter

Device Types

bcMeter (DIY) — The source-available, self-build version. Runs on a Raspberry Pi using the open PCB design, freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0). Build your own from the open design files and the Wiki (nothing is sold).
bcMeter Kit — Assembled-instrument PCB plus components for self-assembly and 3D printing. Available on request.
bcMeter Complete — Fully assembled, ready-to-use instrument on a compact platform that starts in seconds and updates over the air, with no microSD card or Linux system to maintain. Available on request.
eBcMeter — Emission measurement instrument for direct source sampling from wood-burning stoves and similar combustion sources. Uses microgram (µg) units instead of nanogram (ng). Available on request.

How Does It Work?

Polluted air is drawn through filter paper by a pump
The filter paper absorbs black carbon (BC) particles
An LED shining at 880 nm passes through the filter; a sensor measures the attenuation (reduction in light intensity)
A separate reference channel monitors the same LED through a clean portion of the filter, compensating for environmental changes
The attenuation is converted to BC concentration (ng/m³) using Beer-Lambert law
Data is saved as CSV and displayed in real-time on the web interface

Multi-wavelength: Optional 520 nm and 370 nm channels enable source apportionment via the Ångström Exponent (AAE) — distinguishing between fossil fuel and biomass burning sources.

Sensors & Capabilities

Core

Measurement	Sensor / Method	Notes
Black Carbon (BC)	Optical absorption at 880 nm	Primary measurement
Source apportionment	520 nm, 370 nm	Ångström Exponent
Temperature / Humidity	SHT4x
Airflow	Omron D6F differential pressure	Pump flow rate

Optional Hardware

Measurement	Sensor / Method	Notes
Temperature / Humidity / Pressure	BME280	Barometric altitude
PM2.5 / PM10	Sensirion SPS30	Particulate matter
GPS	AT6668 UART	Position, altitude, speed
4G Connectivity	SIM7080G LTE-M modem	Remote data upload

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Introduction ==
-The '''bcMeter''' is an open-source optical absorption photometer designed to measure Black Carbon (BC) aerosols — commonly known as soot — in real-time. Whether you are monitoring ambient air quality in your neighborhood or measuring direct emissions from wood stoves, this device provides scientific-grade data at a fraction of the cost of reference instruments.
+The '''bcMeter''' is a source-available optical absorption photometer designed to measure Black Carbon (BC) aerosols — commonly known as soot — in real-time. The design is freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0); assembled instruments are offered on request. Whether you are monitoring ambient air quality in your neighborhood or measuring direct emissions from wood stoves, this device provides scientific-grade data at a fraction of the cost of reference instruments.
 The device operates "headless" — it has no built-in screen. Instead, it hosts its own website that you can access from any smartphone or computer connected to the same network.
-The software is open source: [https://github.com/dahljo/bcmeter github.com/dahljo/bcmeter]
+The software is source-available — freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0): [https://github.com/dahljo/bcmeter github.com/dahljo/bcmeter]
 === Device Types ===
-* '''bcMeter''' — Portable optical absorption photometer for ambient Black Carbon measurement. Designed for stationary or mobile deployment in monitoring networks, citizen science projects, and field campaigns.
+* '''bcMeter (DIY)''' — The source-available, self-build version. Runs on a Raspberry Pi using the open PCB design, freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0). Build your own from the open design files and the Wiki (nothing is sold).
-* '''eBcMeter''' — Emission measurement instrument for direct source sampling from wood-burning stoves and similar combustion sources. Uses microgram (µg) units instead of nanogram (ng).
+* '''bcMeter Kit''' — Assembled-instrument PCB plus components for self-assembly and 3D printing. Available on request.
+* '''bcMeter Complete''' — Fully assembled, ready-to-use instrument on a compact platform that starts in seconds and updates over the air, with no microSD card or Linux system to maintain. Available on request.
+* '''eBcMeter''' — Emission measurement instrument for direct source sampling from wood-burning stoves and similar combustion sources. Uses microgram (µg) units instead of nanogram (ng). Available on request.
 === How Does It Work? ===