Brooklyn-based non-profit, HabitatMap, began a 30-day Kickstarter campaign this week aimed at raising funds to boost production of their personal palm-sized air quality monitor called the AirBeam. The AirBeam uses Bluetooth, a smartphone app, and a crowdsourcing website, AirCasting.org, to build awareness about personal pollution exposure.

AirBeam is the product of three years of research and development. The device is a critical part of a movement and platform that I call, AirCasting. AirCasting connects a series of wearable devices to a network. It was built as an open-source, end-to-end solution for collecting, displaying, and sharing health and environmental data using a smartphone.

The AirBeam and the AirCasting platform received a boost from Knight earlier this year when HabitatMap, in partnership with Sonoma Technology, was awarded a Knight Prototype Fund grant.  The funds enabled HabitatMap and Sonoma Technology to further develop the AirBeam hardware and create an educational program for high school students. The program teaches students how to build AirCasting air quality instruments, develop air quality monitoring plans, and utilize the AirCasting platform to record, map, interpret and share air quality data. In this way they can lead change through civic action.

By documenting and leveraging health and environmental data to inform personal decision-making and public policy, the AirCasting platform empowers citizen scientists and changemakers.Meeting our funding target and bringing down the cost of producing AirBeams will help us empower communities around the world to share and improve their air.

The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise $50,000, which will enable HabitatMap to scale up production of the AirBeam. The effort will help HabitatMap lower the cost of production from $800 to $200 and reduce assembly time from seven hours to seven minutes. Lower costs and less lead-time will ultimately allow the non-profit to get more devices into the hands of students, teachers, and communities.

Knight Foundation will help build momentum for the Kickstarter effort by kicking in $10,000 if HabitatMap can get 1,000 backers to support the campaign.

If you’re interested in better air quality for all, visit our Kickstarter page and show your support today.