Advancing personal exposure assessment for Living Lab applications / 24.03.2023

A recent review from the URBANOME project highlights key gaps and opportunities in using personal monitoring for participatory environmental health research.

In March 2023, researchers involved in the URBANOME project published a scoping review on the use of personal monitoring applications for assessing exposure to urban stressors (full article available at: https://www.urbanome.eu/integrated-assessment-of-personal-monitor-applications-for-evaluating-exposure-to-urban-stressorsa-scoping-review/).

The review provides a comprehensive overview of current research on individual-level exposure assessment using portable sensors, identifying key trends, limitations, and methodological gaps. While personal monitoring enables high-resolution insights into environmental exposures, the analysis shows that most studies still focus on single stressors—primarily air pollution—while integrated, multi-exposure approaches remain limited.

A key finding relevant to Living Lab development is the role of participants within these studies. Most existing approaches treat participants primarily as data collectors, with limited involvement in interpretation, co-design, or decision-making processes. However, the review highlights that more participatory and collaborative approaches lead to higher engagement, improved understanding, and greater potential for behavioural change.

These insights directly inform the development of Living Lab methodologies within URBANOME and related activities at the Jožef Stefan Institute. By combining personal monitoring with participatory approaches, Living Labs move beyond data collection toward co-creation, enabling participants to actively engage with their data, reflect on their environments, and contribute to the development of solutions.

The review also outlines the need for more integrated frameworks that combine environmental, behavioural, and social data, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex urban health challenges.