FURI | Spring 2022

Improvement of the MaRTiny: A Low-Cost Thermal Sensing Device

Future trends of climate change coupled with urban population growth indicate the need for reducing human exposure to extreme weather and heat. Extreme heat strains human health and people’s ability to work, travel, and enjoy time outdoors. This project develops a low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) device called MaRTiny that collects meteorological data and concurrently counts the number of people in the shade and sun. It is capable of determining a relationship between how people use public outdoor spaces and the mean radiant temperature (MRT), a measure of the amount of heat a human body receives outdoors. By understanding the relationship between MRT, or heat, and how people utilize public outdoor spaces, better design decisions can be made in regard to urban planning and sustainability. This FURI project specifically aims to improve the energy supply of the system using solar panels and improve the system mount through a 3D-printed design to minimize sensing errors.