Main Page
Welcome to the bcmeter.org Wiki
The bcMeter wiki is the technical documentation hub for the bcMeter platform — an optical absorption photometer for measuring Black Carbon (BC) aerosols in real-time. The platform spans the source-available bcMeter (DIY) (build it yourself) and the ready-to-use bcMeter Kit, bcMeter Complete and eBcMeter instruments.
Whether you are setting up a new device, configuring measurements, or building your own unit, this wiki covers everything you need.
Getting Started
- Introduction — What is bcMeter, how it works, capabilities
- Setup — Hardware requirements, first boot, WiFi configuration
- Interface — Web dashboard overview, status indicators, chart controls
Using bcMeter
- Configuration — All settings: network, measurement, device, email
- Maintenance — Filter changes, calibration, data management
- Troubleshooting — Common issues and solutions
- Best practices — Environment, sampling, signal quality
Technical Reference
- Developer mode — Hidden developer settings, hardware tuning
- API reference — REST API endpoints for automation and integration
- CSV data format — Column definitions and data structure
- Serial commands — USB debug interface
bcMeter (DIY) — build it yourself
These pages document the source-available bcMeter (DIY) — the Raspberry-Pi-based design, freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0), built from open design files (nothing is sold). The assembled bcMeter Kit, Complete and eBcMeter use a different hardware design.
- Working principle — Optical measurement principle
- Bill of material — Component list and costs (bcMeter DIY)
- Device assembly — Hardware build instructions (bcMeter DIY)
Software
The bcMeter software is source-available — freely available for private, educational and research use (CC BY-NC 4.0): github.com/dahljo/bcmeter-pi
The codebase includes the web interface, REST API, measurement engine, and all device management functionality.
Contact
- Technical inquiries & devices: Jonas Dahl — jd@bcmeter.org
- Black carbon science & air quality: Axel Friedrich — af@bcmeter.org
- Project website: bcmeter.org