Autonomous measurement platforms for environmental data

There is a strong and urgent need to build up a metrological research infrastructure to address these shortcomings and improve their acceptance and use in various monitoring contexts.

The Finnish Environment Institute SYKE is National Reference Laboratory, Designated Metrology Institute and Standards-writing body in Finland and experienced in the research and development of procedures assessing the reliability of novel sensor applications and their measurement uncertainty estimations.

SYKE has previously set up (the first generation) mechatronics research infrastructures in Joensuu site in North Karelia as well as in Helsinki and Oulu with facilities, instrumentation and personnel for tailoring IoT solutions with emerging environmental measurement technologies.

Infrastructure also includes platform for testing sensors both in laboratory and field conditions in controlled manner e.g. according to specific European standard (EN 17075).

The aim of the project is to further develop and focus SYKE’s mechatronics research infrastructure in Joensuu location to better support the above mentioned current and future needs of environmental researchers, authorities and other stakeholders in applications of autonomous measurement platforms.

Moreover, the proposed infrastructure aims at supporting advances in the field of environmental monitoring, with a specific focus on metrological performances e.g. comparability to a reference method (standardized or recognized/accepted), uncertainty estimation, or traceability to SI depending on the parameter monitored.

The results of the project will promote the introduction of product innovations and environmental safety in the region, but also more widely, nationally and globally.