Abstract
Using low-cost portable air quality (AQ) monitoring devices is a growing trend in personal exposure studies, enabling a higher spatio-temporal resolution and identifying acute exposure to high concentrations. Comprehension of the results by participants is not guaranteed in exposure studies. However, information on personal exposure is multiplex, which calls for participant involvement in information design to maximise communication output and comprehension. This study describes and proposes a model of a user-centred design (UCD) approach for preparing a final report for participants involved in a multi-sensor personal exposure monitoring study performed in seven cities within the EU Horizon 2020 ICARUS project. Using a combination of human-centred design (HCD), human–information interaction (HII) and design thinking approaches, we iteratively included participants in the framing and design of the final report. User needs were mapped using a survey (n = 82), and feedback on the draft report was obtained from a focus group (n = 5). User requirements were assessed and validated using a post-campaign survey (n = 31). The UCD research was conducted amongst participants in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and the results report was distributed among the participating cities across Europe. The feedback made it clear that the final report was well-received and helped participants better understand the influence of individual behaviours on personal exposure to air pollution.
Highlights
The rise of low-cost personal air monitoring devices has democratised environmental health decision making, enabling scientists to involve the public in air quality (AQ) monitoring programmes
The user-centred design (UCD) model is a result of lack of existing UCD models for results reporting in environmental health studies
The developed UCD model is a combination of principles and practices from the human-centred design (HCD) landscape, design thinking and human–information interaction (HII), the latter focusing on communicating complex information where the user makes decisions about a complex situation
Summary
The rise of low-cost personal air monitoring devices has democratised environmental health decision making, enabling scientists to involve the public in air quality (AQ) monitoring programmes. The small size of these devices, their low cost, high temporal resolution for data capture and internet connectivity for remote access facilitate their use in large-scale studies of multiple stressors [1,2]. It is known that personal exposure to air pollution depends on individual trajectories and activities [3], and exposure studies have demonstrated the need for data with a high spatio-temporal resolution in order to obtain a rigorous personal exposure assessment [4,5]. We should not take for granted the participants’ desire to see final data [10,11]. Rather, it is every individual’s right to know or not to know [12,13,14]
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