The CES was created in 2005 to 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,
   
• Sponsor symposia on environmental sensing,
   
• Provide seed grant funds for new sensor development projects, and
   
• Promote multidisciplinary research.

Projects aimed at providing portable, high-resolution and cost effective sensors to identify and monitor harmful chemical compounds in our nation’s air, water and soil and early detection of chemical warfare agents in our environment are supported through the Center with funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, we are developing new cost effective, minimally-invasive measurement methods, protocols, and modeling tools to characterize and image variations in subsurface properties and contaminant movement in subsurface soils and aquifers. These capabilities will reduce risks and costs associated with assessment, clean-up and monitoring of contaminants in the environment.

Example sensor projects:

Subsurface Ion Mobility Spectrometer (Dr. Molly Gribb, Dept. of Civil Engineering and Dick Sevier, Center for Environmental Sensing, BSU; Dr. Herbert H. Hill, Washington State University Dept. of Chemistry): We have designed and fabricated a small Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) for deployment below the ground 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 research project represents a new application of IMS as a method for identifying gaseous VOCs in subsurface soils.  More

A surface plasmon sensor (Dr. Wan Kuang, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering): An integrated chip-scale surface plasmon sensor, which allows identification and characterization of contaminants including chemical warfare agents, is under development. The objective of the research is to produce a monolithic integrated solution where the SPR sensing, electric current generation and signal processing are achieved on the same plane. A nano-structured metal membrane, thiolated with linker receptors, is deposited on a p-n photodiode array fabricated by the standard CMOS process. When the target analyte attaches to the receptors, surface plasmon resonance occurs on the metal film, leading to an enhanced optical transmission and a direct electrical readout. As the cost and the critical dimension of CMOS processing continue to decrease, the proposed method offers a pathway to a lower cost, more portable, more functional, and even personalized sensor chip. More

An arsenic sensor for groundwater (Dr. Dale Russell, Dept. of Chemistry): Arsenic sensing is based on molecular recognition binding of polyatomic arsenic species to the sensing element, followed by electrochemical detection. This microchip device has discrete sensing elements for several different arsenic species. It has a low power requirement, is battery powered, field portable and suitable for hand-held or autonomous deployment.  Detection limits are presently in the sub-ppb range.

A miniature polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device (Dr. Greg Hampikian, Dept. of Biology; Dr. Don Plumlee, Dept. of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering): This device will allow for amplification of minute amounts of DNA (down to the single molecule) to allow for rapid detection of bioterrorism agents. In this project, a miniature, lightweight, PCR device with minimal power requirements is being designed to be used for rapid (< 15 min) identification of multiple bioterrorism agents in a single run. The device is being constructed from low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) materials. Three bioterrorism agents were selected from the CDC’s list of Category A Diseases/Agents (Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, and Yersinia pestis) as test species.  We have characterized the bioactivity of LTCC, overcome enzyme inhibition associated with the material, and successfully tested our simultaneous three agent detection chemistry using mixed environmental DNA samples.

Center researchers are also developing geophysical methods for minimally invasive subsurface characterization and imaging (including time-lapse tomographic imaging) to detect and quantify subsurface contaminant movement and transport properties. More

Other Boise State environmental sensing projects funded by the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, and the US 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.

Funding for this web page provided by EPA Award Numbers X97031101-0 and X97031102-0.