Welcome     

Welcome to the Center for Environmental Sensing web site! The CES was approved by the Idaho State Board of Education in 2005 to function as an umbrella organization and provide a focal point for the sensor-related research being done at Boise State University. Our goals are to:   

• Provide a comprehensive source for information about sensor-related research at Boise State University
• Provide external advisory board review of proposed or existing center projects
• Sponsor a conference on environmental sensing in 2007 in collaboration with the Inland Northwest Research Alliance
• Provide seed grant funds for new sensor development projects, and
• Promote multidisciplinary sensor research.

One of the many sensor projects underway at Boise State University is the development of a miniature Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) to detect and quantify volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Ion mobility spectrometry is used for the real time detection of volatile chemical warfare agents, explosive vapors, and controlled substances and most airports, customs agents, and army units are equipped with small portable low-resolution IMS devices. This EPA-funded research project represents a new application of IMS as a method for identifying gaseous VOCs in subsurface soils and features the use of a novel material system called low-temperature, co-fired ceramics for construction of the sensor. 

Another EPA-funded project is underway by the Center for Geophysical Investigation of the Subsurface (CGISS) for the development of geophysical methods for minimally invasive subsurface characterization and imaging (including time-lapse tomographic imaging) to detect and quantify subsurface contaminant movement and transport properties.

Other Boise State environmental sensing projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Federal Aviation Administration include studies to develop portable sensors to detect arsenic, mercury, benzene, uranium and other contaminants, aircraft emission and mitigation studies, scientific expeditions to map the ocean floor using seismic reflection methods, ground-penetrating radar imaging to detect changes in Arctic river channel/ice morphologies, airliner cabin air quality studies, and many others. For more detailed descriptions of many of these projects, click on the Research link. Thank you for visiting the CES website. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us.