Collaborative calibration and sensor placement for mobile sensor networks

Mobile sensing systems carried by individuals or machines make it possible to measure position- and time-dependent environmental conditions, such as air quality and radiation. The low-cost, miniature sensors commonly used in these systems are prone to measurement drift, requiring occasional re-calibration to provide accurate data. Requiring end users to periodically do manual calibration work would make many mobile sensing systems impractical. We therefore argue for the use of collaborative, automatic calibration among nearby mobile sensors, and provide solutions to the drift estimation and placement problems posed by such a system.