Sensors UNICORN sensors

UNICORN uses BEACO₂N sensor nodes, developed by Prof. Ron Cohen’s group at UC Berkeley. The core component is the Vaisala GMP343 infrared sensor (NDIR) for CO₂, complemented by instruments measuring particulate matter (PM₂.₅), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO₂), ozone (O₃), temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. This multi-tracer setup allows a more complete and source-attributable picture of urban emissions.

Before field deployment, each sensor is calibrated against reference instruments on the rooftop laboratory of the Institute of Environmental Physics (IUP) in Heidelberg, in collaboration with the groups of Martina Schmidt and Sam Hammer. The sensors are then installed at various rooftop locations across Heidelberg and Mannheim to maximize spatial coverage and minimize local disturbances.