https://www.pistack.xyz/tags/citizen-science/ Recent content in Citizen-Science on Pi Stack Hugo en-us Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-06-self-hosted-radiation-monitoring-diy-detector-safecast-openradiation-guide/ Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-06-self-hosted-radiation-monitoring-diy-detector-safecast-openradiation-guide/ <h2 id="why-monitor-radiation-yourself">Why Monitor Radiation Yourself?</h2> <p>Radiation monitoring sounds like something only nuclear power plant operators need — but citizen-led radiation sensing has proven its value repeatedly. After the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011, Safecast volunteers deployed thousands of portable sensors across Japan, generating the most comprehensive open radiation dataset ever created. Today, affordable silicon photomultipliers and PIN diodes let anyone build a radiation spectrometer capable of distinguishing between different radioactive isotopes — technology that previously cost thousands of dollars in a handheld device.</p> https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-06-self-hosted-seismic-monitoring-raspberry-shake-openeew-seiscomp-guide/ Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-06-self-hosted-seismic-monitoring-raspberry-shake-openeew-seiscomp-guide/ <h2 id="why-self-host-seismic-monitoring">Why Self-Host Seismic Monitoring?</h2> <p>Earthquake monitoring was once the exclusive domain of government geological surveys with million-dollar equipment budgets. Today, affordable MEMS accelerometers, Raspberry Pi single-board computers, and open-source software have democratized seismology — anyone can operate a seismic station from their basement or garage. Citizen scientists worldwide contribute to global earthquake detection networks, and self-hosted seismic monitoring gives you real-time data ownership, customized alerting, and the ability to participate in meaningful scientific research.</p> https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-04-self-hosted-air-quality-monitoring-airrohr-luftdaten-sensor-community-guide/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.pistack.xyz/posts/2026-06-04-self-hosted-air-quality-monitoring-airrohr-luftdaten-sensor-community-guide/ <h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2> <p>Air pollution causes an estimated 7 million premature deaths annually according to the World Health Organization. Yet most people have no access to hyperlocal air quality data — government monitoring stations may be dozens of kilometers away, and commercial monitors cost thousands of dollars. The citizen science movement has responded with open-source air quality monitoring platforms that anyone can build for under $50.</p>