The environments in which we live and work, whether they are artificial (habitat, vehicles, transport infrastructure) or natural (parks, forests, seaside), are increasingly equipped with sensors that diagnose their functioning  in real time in order to optimize it. This intelligence of the world, carried by the Internet of Things, is essential to the sustainable development of our societies as it enables preserving the natural resources while improving our quality of life.

Goal of the project: our general aim is to create sensors based on nanostructured materials in order to improve our environments.

The first aspect is to produce sensors in large series and at low cost via the use of easily industrializable technologies such as inkjet printing. The second aspect is to fully characterize the sensors in simulated “real” environmental conditions. The third aspect is to assess the reliability of the sensors in order to ensure that they are resistant to their long-term usage. This has led to the design and development of a unique experimental platform “PLATINE”, that features (among other equipment) custom-made benches to test sensors under thermal, mechanical and chemical stresses. Finally, the sensor data will be evaluated using big-data analysis technologies to provide precise answers to users, companies and public authorities.

Collaborations: Sense-City, the mini-city developed at IFSTTAR.
The sensors developed will be deployed in Sense-City, a mini-city of a human scale that allows to test, in realistic conditions, the operation of innovative technologies.

A strong societal challenge: imagining key technologies for sustainable development.

Nanotechnologies have a major role to play in this adventure because they promise smaller, cheaper, more performant and more energy-efficient sensors compared to the products marketed today. This is why a variety of nanosensors has been developed in laboratories. However, in reality, very few of them are actually usable in real environments. Lack of robustness and reliability, imprecision and drift of measurements as well as high cost usually prevents these sensors from attaining the stage of technology transfer. To address these challenges, Laurence Bodelot and Bérengère Lebental develop a range of nanosensors with the objective of guaranteing their real applicability via the mastering of their reliability. Many areas are concerned: from environment and health, through the measurement of air and water pollution, to transportation, through the monitoring of road traffic or of road conditions. Many applications may result, such as pedestrian routes that minimize exposure to air pollutants.

(see also article from https://xpuissancevous.fr/projets/detail/environnement-intelligent-nanocapteurs-et-nanofiabilite)