As climate-related events such as wildfires become more frequent and intense, understanding their impact on indoor environments has become a growing priority. The National Research Council (NRC), Canada’s leading institution for science and applied research; launched an initiative to investigate how outdoor pollution, particularly wildfire smoke, affects indoor air quality in research and workplace settings.
Their objective was clear and research-driven : to deploy a reliable, real-time indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring solution across multiple experimental environments. The goal was to collect high-resolution data on key pollutants such as particulate matter and CO₂ to support scientific analysis, guide emergency preparedness, and improve overall indoor environmental resilience.
- To support its wildfire smoke research program, the NRC deployed a network of 62 devices, a combination of MICA WELL and MICA Plus, across a wide range of controlled and real-world environments.
- Each device was connected to a My inBiot Business license, providing researchers with access to real-time indoor air quality data, spatial heatmaps, and intelligent reporting tools designed to streamline documentation and trend analysis.
- One of the main challenges of the project was ensuring precise, high-frequency monitoring across dynamic and often unpredictable research settings. These environments demanded a system capable of capturing reliable data on a wide range of pollutants in real time, particularly during wildfire-related events.
- In parallel, the growing volume of collected data made manual analysis inefficient and timeconsuming. By leveraging My inBiot’s advanced visualization and reporting capabilities, NRC teams were able to extract key insights with just a few clicks, greatly enhancing their capacity to analyze, interpret, and act upon complex IAQ data in support of ongoing research.
- Robust IAQ infrastructure: The NRC now operates a reliable, research-grade monitoring system that supports advanced investigations into the impact of environmental pollutants on indoor air quality.
- Scientific insight: The data collected has been instrumental in understanding how wildfire smoke infiltrates indoor environments, informing future standards and emergency response protocols.
- Precision monitoring: High-resolution, real-time tracking of critical IAQ variables across complex and variable research spaces.
- Enhanced data access: My inBiot Business enables fast, intuitive access to environmental insights through visual dashboards, heatmaps, and automated reporting.
- Informed decision-making: Researchers are empowered to take timely, evidence-based action based on actual environmental conditions.
- Scalable solution: The system’s adaptability allows for seamless deployment across a wide range of experimental setups and evolving research needs.
62
devices (
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API licences
My inBiot Business licences
Custom Business Intelligence dashboard
Temperature, Humidity, CO2, TVOC, PM2.5, PM10, PM4.0, PM1.0, Formaldehyde, Ozone, NO2, CO
Sherbrooke, Canada
2024
“inBiot devices have become essential in our research on how wildfire smoke affects indoor air quality. Their ability to monitor a wide range of parameters, including particulate matter and CO2, allows us to gather real-time data crucial for understanding and managing air quality. This comprehensive insight supports more effective decision-making and proactive measures to ensure healthier indoor environments."
