This article documents the steps I used to compile the uRADMonitor KIT1 firmware from the Github code/124 directory using Visual Studio Code on Windows. The original uRADMonitor KIT1 firmware project was created for the AVR toolchain and appears to have been maintained using an Eclipse AVR-style project structure. That original setup is still valid, and […]
New uRADMonitor® Deployment in Bistrița
Almost 100 advanced uRADMonitor® #AirQuality sensors (A3, Model CITY + the new METEO for #Weather ) are being deployed in Bistrița 🇷🇴 via the EU 🇪🇺 B-CONNECT project! Several Universities are part of the consortium for data analysis & #Research 🌬️📡 In 2021, the city of Bistrița took a pioneering step toward environmental sustainability by […]
Fireworks and Sensors: What the Data Reveals
Fireworks are launched by a small rocket that explodes in the sky, creating brilliant colors from burning metallic salts (e.g., strontium for red, barium for green, copper for blue) along with loud bangs and clouds of smoke. The explosion releases soot, chemical residues, heavy metals, burned paper, and large amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 […]
2025 A year in Review
As we wrap up 2025 with this end-of-year article, we’re thrilled to celebrate a year of impressive hardware advancements at uRADMonitor, pushing sensor precision and network reach to new heights. Above all, peace has been the greatest gift, creating the ideal conditions for creativity and progress to thrive, and 2025 delivered that, at least for […]
uRADMonitor MODEL A3 Stevenson Shield
The uRADMonitor MODEL A3 is among the most capable multi-parameter air quality sensors currently available. Housed in a compact rugged enclosure, it integrates eight independent, high-quality digital sensors that monitor eleven air parameters: temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, ozone, particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10), carbon dioxide, and noise level. Measurements […]
10 Years of Innovation
Magnasci SRL, the Romanian 🇷🇴 company behind the global uRADMonitor sensor network, has recently marked its ten-year milestone. Over this decade, the company has shown steady and visible progress: rapid product development, integration of advanced IoT and satellite technologies to remain competitive in a dynamic market, and continuous international expansion. Today, more than 4,000 uRADMonitor […]
High-Humidity Tropical Air Validation Tests for uRADMonitor SMOGGIE
The PM2.5 field test Inter-comparison Campaign previously announced in July, has now been launched in Vietnam’s capital Ho Chi Minh City, led by Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble and the CARE (Center of Asian Research on watEr) laboratory. The initiative is a collaboration between the Faculty of Environment – VNUHCM University of Science and the IGE laboratory (Institut des Géosciences de l’Environnement, Grenoble, France), […]
Bucharest Warehouse Fire Engulfs Capital in Smoke
Just weeks after the massive late-August fire, another major blaze erupted on Tuesday evening, September 23, at a warehouse in Bucharest’s Sector 2, sending a huge cloud of smoke over the city. Firefighters have been working through the night and into Wednesday, with operations expected to continue for the entire day. Authorities issued multiple Ro-Alert […]
Plastic enclosure for the uRADMonitor® KIT1
The uRADMonitor® KIT1 is an open-source IoT sensor, designed to be highly configurable and easy to hack. By default, it comes with a Geiger tube and an Ethernet module, making it perfect for autonomous radiation monitoring. You can order a pre-assembled unit here. Launched in 2016 during our first IndieGogo crowdfunding campaign, KIT1 has inspired makers worldwide. The full […]
Massive Fire in Bucharest Sparks Launch of New uRADMonitor Feature
On the morning of August 27, 2025, Bucharest woke up under a toxic cloud. A massive fire at the Dragonul Roșu commercial complex in Pantelimon sent thick smoke drifting across the city, with acrid air reported as far as Berceni and downtown Unirii. Official monitoring stations recorded pollution levels up to ten times above normal, with fine […]
Giveaway – Giving Sensors a Second Life
uRADMonitor donates refurbished 🌱 air quality monitors for education and civic use At uRADMonitor, we believe technology should serve people and communities. Besides driving innovation in IoT and sensor technologies, another key directive we follow is to increase environmental awareness and responsibility. As part of our regular maintenance cycle, some uRADMonitor sensors were returned. While a […]
Indoor Air Pollution: Risks, Causes and How uRADMonitor Sensors Can Help
What Is Indoor Air Pollution? Indoor air pollution refers to the presence of harmful substances within indoor environments, often resulting from various sources like cooking, heating, cleaning products, and building materials. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can lead to a range of health issues, including physical and cognitive issues, contributing to the phenomenon known as “Sick […]
Cluj-Napoca deploys uRADMonitor sensors in European Union URBREATH Project
Soon after joining URBREATH , an European initiative aimed at improving urban air quality through advanced monitoring and data-driven action , Cluj-Napoca integrated several dozen uRADMonitor® sensors across the city. The project brings together research institutions, technology providers, and local authorities to build networks of environmental sensors, collect real-time pollution data, and involve communities in […]
AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge 2025
The last edition was a huge success . Now the AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge 2025 continues its mission to evaluate and promote innovation in air quality monitoring. Organized by Airparif and its open innovation platform AIRLAB, the challenge provides an independent, real-world performance assessment of air quality microsensors. It empowers decision-makers with trusted data to tackle air pollution, a global issue […]
French INP Grenoble deploys uRADMonitor sensors in Vietnam
We are excited to share the latest deployment of uRADMonitor SMOGGIE-HEAT sensors in Vietnam, as part of a collaborative research initiative led by the prestigious Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble (INP Grenoble). This marks another important step in our commitment to supporting global scientific research and innovation in air quality monitoring. About INP Grenoble Located in the […]
uRADMonitor Model INDUSTRIAL Improvements
The MODEL INDUSTRIAL is a high-end air quality monitoring unit built for harsh environments, featuring a robust aluminium enclosure, industrial-grade sensors, and connectivity options like Ethernet, WiFi, and GSM. It has been successfully deployed in industrial facilities, research stations, environmental protection agencies, and city-wide monitoring networks across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The last time […]
uRADMonitor® MODEL A4 improvements – hw4
Developed to meet the growing demand for accurate, localised data, the MODEL A4 is as a modular, durable, and easy-to-maintain device, launched in late 2023 to improve reliability and simplify field servicing in diverse outdoor conditions. Its multi-parameter sensing capabilities, combined with the weatherproof enclosure and the versatile modular design that simplifies field installation and […]
Open data upload tutorial
uRADMonitor is one of the biggest global sensor networks for environmental monitoring, providing real-time data on air quality, radiation, and other parameters. While most of the units in the network are made by us and typically come with a predefined unique Device ID, assigned at manufacture time, the network allows open hardware and custom sensors to […]
Air quality research based on uRADMonitor® data using R
I am a researcher working on topics related to aerosol composition and dynamics, in particular the measurement and analysis of PM2.5 and PM10 in urban environments. In my work I have been using data from uRADMonitor devices to obtain a better understanding of air quality in Romanian cities. Low-cost sensors vs. reference grade equipment Low-cost […]
Yuri Pattison’s Dream Sequence
Technology and art are deeply connected, working together to enrich the human spirit. Technology enhances creativity, offering tools like digital media, 3D modeling, and virtual reality that enable artists to push beyond traditional boundaries. Art, in turn, brings humanity to technology, embedding it with emotion, storytelling, and cultural depth. This synergy produces immersive experiences—such as […]
Hiroshima Memorial – 79 years of Nuclear Weapons
Today in Hiroshima, a Ceremony marks 79 years since the devastation of humankind’s first use of a nuclear weapon in war. In a moment of unprecedented global tension, the Japanese people remind the world of the horrors of nuclear war and hope the mistakes of the past not be repeated. About 50,000 people took part […]
Large-Scale Sensor Deployment in Bucharest
Over 100 uRADMonitor® MODEL A4 units were recently deployed across Sector 1 of Bucharest in a major air quality monitoring initiative. Introduced in late 2023, the MODEL A4 is a modular, outdoor-ready device featuring a detachable sensor board, OTA updates, strong connectivity, and a weather-resistant Stevenson shield. Its design allows quick field maintenance, while the […]
uRADMonitor® A3 featured at Orange Telecommunication Expo
What started almost 125 years ago in the form of the wireless telegraph, an invention attributed to the italian inventor Marconi, now is part of our every day life, so deeply integrated into our lifestyles and work processes that there’s no going back. Telecommunications are undeniably one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments, driven by an inherent […]
Infrastructure improvements increase life quality in Timisoara – a case study
There is a known correlation between the traffic in a city and the level of pollution, as has been shown in several studies. While the exhaust emissions are directly linked to the number of cars and this figure increases in time, there are also the non-exhaust emissions that raise additional questions and need complementary solutions. […]
New Radiation Dosimeter runs on solar power
The uRADMonitor MODEL B1 is an automated and autonomous radiation monitor designed to detect both high and low dose rates of gamma radiation. It operates on solar power and transmits data in real time via a GSM radio link. Remote access to the data is offered through the existing API. It’s designed with redundancy as […]
Model CITY 5th Hardware Iteration
The MODEL CITY is our professional range sensor featuring 4 large volume electrochemical gas sensors that track gases down to trace levels of 1PPB. All this with an excellent accuracy thanks to the innovative electronic design that minimises noise levels at low concentrations. The new design measures Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide , […]
Low cost mechanism to improve Particulate Matter Optical Sensor response in high humidity
Advances in optical particulate matter sensors have opened the door for the existence of air quality monitoring networks using low cost sensors. The reduced cost allowed the spread of thousands of IOT automatic sensors, offering an unprecedented spatial resolution, the so called “hyperlocal air quality monitoring”. While signifiant technical advances have been made to offer […]
Producing the uRADMonitor® MODEL A4
uRADMonitor® MODEL A4 was built on community feedback that repeatedly indicated the importance of a modular design. The board with sensors should be separated and so can be changed easily. Besides that , things like a better microcontroller that will allow OTA updates, a stronger WIFI connectivity and a very nice Stevenson shield were also […]
SaveDnipro and Greenpeace install radiation sensors in Ukraine
“Our radiation sensors can’t stop radiation, but they can provide vital information that can save lives in the possible event of a deliberate nuclear disaster. Having listened to the voices of local authorities and politicians across southern Ukraine, and following up on their efforts, Greenpeace is deeply committed to its work of supporting the Ukrainian […]
uRADMonitor® MODEL A4
While keeping pace with the ever-evolving tech progress we also fulfil our mission of building World’s biggest environmental monitoring network. This pushes us to shape our innovative potential into constantly developing more versatile hardware designs. We are proud to reiterate that in all that we do, we listen to our community. One frequent requirement was […]
uRADMonitor is winner at Paris AIRLAB Challenge 2023
Today was a great day as uRADMonitor was a double winner in Paris, at the closing event of the International AIRLAB 2023 Microsensors Challenge. This year, the Challenge took a daring approach, running sensor tests in 3 locations, two in France and one in Thailand. The latter contributed with a new set of valuable data […]
GreenPeace joins Radiation Monitoring in Ukraine
The year 2022 brought a cynical demonstration of the fact that part of humanity has not yet overcome the barbarism specific to the Middle Ages. This happened through the military incursion of the Russians into the peaceful Ukraine. One thing led to another and not long after, strategic objectives were under fire including Zaporizhzhia Nuclear […]
Sensors at Craiova Summer School 2023 Edition
One year later, Craiova hosts the second edition of the “Summer School” Erasmus+ project “Application of advanced technologies in teaching and research, in the field of air pollution”. As a reminder, this successful project is developed by the University of Craiova in partnership with the Adana Türkeş Alparslan University of Science and Technology (Turkey), the […]
Toronto, New York and Washington under smoke blankets
The Ontario wildfires are a serious environmental and health issue that affects many people and communities. According to provincial data, there have been 167 forest fires so far in 2023, which is double the number of fires in the same period in 2022 . The fires have also caused smoke to drift across the province, […]
My journey with a SMOGGIE-PM and understanding the environment
If you are reading this I am assuming that you care about your health and the environment. About 6 months ago I wanted to see if I could find opportunities to help the greater good. Nothing big and lofty but I figured maybe I could use my internet connection to foster public good. The first thing I […]
CEPARER – a study on Road transport pollution
We know well that traffic is a major source of pollution. But what does that mean, actually? First thing that pops to our minds is, of course, the exhaust gas, that contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, all of which can have harmful effects on human health, especially with long-term exposure. It’s generally […]
AIRLAB Microsensors Challenge 2023
30 uRADMonitor devices shipped to France and Thailand for a new edition of the AIRPARIF challenge. Airparif is a French non-profit organization dedicated to improving air quality. The Microsensors Challenge is a competition organized by Airparif that aims to encourage the development of innovative microsensors for monitoring air pollution. The competition is open to individuals, […]
“Excellence in Innovation” Award from Orange at Innovation Labs Gala
Innovation Labs celebrated a decade of activity in the service of the Romanian entrepreneurship and innovation. The event took place on Monday at the Bucharest National Opera, bringing together representatives of tech startups, of the nine main partners of the program, investors and friends of the innovation ecosystem. The Innovation Labs Gala was an opportunity […]
All Vrancea county cities get uRADMonitor sensors
“With the increase in the number of vehicles, construction sites, and the amount of incinerated garbage, pollution is becoming a subject that increasingly concerns us, the people of Vrancea. The Vrancea County Council continues the informative campaign on the impact of pollution on people’s health, with the aim of reducing and preventing in the future […]
Sensors built by Erasmus students in Craiova
When the Smoggie #airquality sensor was released as open source, we had a very specific target in mind: students and hobbyists that would build their own low cost sensors to add new data points on the global map, spreading the word on the #airquality impact on their communities and cities. This came to materialise on […]
uRADMonitor Radiation sensors in Ukraine
Following the anouncement on the radiation sensors we sent to Ukraine to help monitor the Zaporojie area there are some new developments. The sensors arrived and are being installed by SaveEcoBot and their partners. This effort was also documented by the local press, Buletin de Bucuresti and Observator Antena 1. The first sensor to go […]
The New SMOGGIE
Having almost 1000 SMOGGIE units deployed, makes this one of the best designs we came up with. It’s likely the max we could do in terms of IOT sensors with the existing technology, by optimising all aspects but with no compromise to data accuracy. This was rewarded last year in Paris, where uRADMonitor took two […]
Model A sensors donated to Ukraine
In a world overwhelmed by post-pandemic problems, with a terrible widespread drought, with instability in several important markets raising concerns of a new global economic crisis, Russia thought to top up the list by unleashing one of the most barbaric aggressions that Europe has seen against the peaceful state of Ukraine.And where there is no […]
Citywide Air Quality monitoring in Timisoara
Timisoara is the main economic, social and cultural center in western Romania and the country’s third city by population size. Timisoara has recently committed itself to a strong digitalisation direction, through which to modernise the city’s services using the latest technologies. Sensors in Timisoara Being a company that started from Timisoara, uRADMonitor (MAGNASCI SRL) offered […]
STUDY: uRADMonitor partners with top-ranked academic institution Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for premier field research
uRADMonitor technology in partnership with DIM Transilvania Group contributed to the first scientific collaborative research of hairdressers exposure to respirable particulate matter (RPM) inside minority-owned hair salons in the state of Maryland, US. The report was conducted in alliance with leading experts from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, School of Public Health at […]
Tonga explosion tracked by sensors
An underwater volcano in the South Pacific erupted violently on Saturday, causing tsunamis on several Pacific coasts. The Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano, about 70 kilometers north of the island of Tonga, Tonga, erupted for the first time on Friday and for the second time on Saturday around 5:26 p.m. local time (GMT+13). Huge clouds formed above the […]
Sensor crowdsourcing in Breaza
Breaza is a town located in the sub-Carpathian area, at an altitude of 380–450 m, on a terrace located at a height of 50–60 m above the Prahova riverbed. Some of the people here, have chosen to settle in a quieter area and with a cleaner environment.This direction was perhaps a contributor factor to an […]
Brasov CITY embraces modern technologies and installs #airquality sensors
Brașov is a city in the Transylvania region of Romania, ringed by the Carpathian Mountains. It’s known for its medieval Saxon walls and bastions, the towering Gothic-style Black Church and lively cafes. The beautiful mountain town had a busy schedule during 2021, with several projects that impacted the relationship with the environment: an international conference […]
Happy & Successful 2022!
Against all odds, 2021 brought a lot of progress on what we do here, at uRADMonitor. Before wishing you the very best for the new year to come, here are some of the BEST THINGS that happened during 2021. With all these in mind, there are so many great things we are eager to continue […]
City of Bistrita, Ro installs sensors
The municipality of Bistrița, through the Bistrița City Hall, has installed 18 multi-parameter environmental sensors within the “Zero Carbon Cities” program financed by the European Union through UrbAct. The sensors used are of two types, uRADMonitor A3 and uRADMonitor SMOGGIE-CO2, that have received worldwide recognition for outstanding technical performance. uRADMonitor supported the effort of Bistrita […]