Smart City and Environmental monitoring

NextPM

NextPM is the most performant particulate sensor on the market

NextPM Advanced

Optimized for HVAC systems, it replaces the internal fan with an external pump to handle pressure drops effectively

PMSCAN

Personal exposure instrument with NextPM inside

NextPM for ambient air quality monitoring

For decades, accurately measuring air quality relied on high-cost reference instruments, limiting the ability of many organizations to effectively monitor and respond to air quality issues. But the landscape is changing. Recent advancements in sensing technologies have paved the way for highly accurate yet affordable solutions. These new-generation low-cost sensors allow us to significantly expand monitoring networks, giving organizations with smaller budgets the capability to reliably track air quality, identify pollution sources, and better protect public health.

Challenges with Low-Cost PM Sensors: Accuracy and Humidity

Low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors offer a practical solution for broader air quality monitoring, but they face significant challenges, especially in terms of accuracy. Many of these sensors perform well in environments with high particle concentrations but tend to lose reliability at lower, more typical pollution levels. This variability can lead to inaccurate readings, making it difficult to confidently rely on these sensors for regulatory decisions or precise health-related assessments.

Humidity also presents a major obstacle for low-cost PM sensors. High relative humidity—often above 75%—can cause particles to absorb water and swell, artificially inflating the sensor’s reported mass and particle counts. This hygroscopic growth effect can lead to substantial overestimation of pollution levels, causing confusion and potentially triggering unnecessary responses or alarm.

Beyond affecting measurement accuracy, humidity poses reliability risks for sensor components. Persistent moisture can damage electronic parts or cause internal condensation, reducing both the sensor’s effectiveness and its lifespan. These humidity-related issues highlight critical limitations that need addressing for low-cost sensors to reliably support ambient air quality monitoring efforts.

NextPM: an Innovative Solution for Reliable PM Sensor Measurements

2 angle detection for better sizing

To solve the accuracy issue commonly encountered with low-cost particulate matter sensors, we’ve developed an innovative sensor design in NextPM, featuring two distinct detection angles (45° and 90°). Traditional single-angle sensors often struggle to differentiate between similar-sized particles, leading to unreliable PM data. NextPM’s dual-angle approach provides superior particle size discrimination, significantly improving the accuracy of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 measurements.

Humidity shield to prevent hygroscopic effect

To effectively tackle this issue, we’ve integrated a patented humidity regulation system into our NextPM sensors. This innovative design utilizes three internal heating resistors strategically placed at the sensor’s inlet to actively remove moisture from sampled air. By maintaining internal humidity consistently below 60%, NextPM ensures accurate measurements by preventing particles from artificially swelling due to moisture absorption.

Field evaluations confirm the efficiency of this humidity shield. Tests conducted in environments with relative humidity regularly exceeding 80% demonstrated clear results: NextPM sensors equipped with heating resistors maintained measurement biases as low as 2% for PM2.5, whereas traditional sensors without heating overestimated PM concentrations by up to 43%. This robust humidity management ensures that the data collected remains trustworthy and precise, even in highly humid or foggy environments.

Why use NextPM?

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Affordable data you can trust

One of the standout benefits of NextPM is its ability to deliver highly reliable air quality data at an affordable price point. Unlike many traditional reference-grade instruments, which can be prohibitively expensive, NextPM offers exceptional accuracy—validated by correlation coefficients above 0.95 compared to certified analyzers—at a significantly lower cost. With minimal maintenance and an expected lifespan of up to 10 years, thanks to innovative anti-clogging and humidity management technologies, NextPM ensures long-term reliability and optimal total cost of ownership.

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Save time on design and colocation

Traditional PM sensors often require lengthy co-location periods to validate field performance, consuming significant time and resources. With NextPM, this process is accelerated. Its proven high correlation (r² > 0.95) with certified analyzers dramatically reduces the time needed for field validation.
Additionally, our dedicated technical team offers hands-on support—from initial setup to specific sensor integration questions to make sure you get the best out of your NextPM sensor.

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Advanced Insights with 5 Bins

NextPM provides particle measurements across five granulometric channels (0.3-0.5 µm, 0.5-1 µm, 1-2.5 µm, 2.5-5 µm, and 5-10 µm) expressed directly in particles per liter (pcs/L). This detailed particle-size data goes beyond basic mass concentration measurements (µg/m³), enabling deeper analysis of pollution sources, better understanding of particle behavior, and more informed decision-making for air quality management. Whether you’re conducting environmental studies or implementing precision air quality strategies, these granulometric insights empower you with enhanced visibility and accuracy.

FAQ

Q: What particulate sizes does the NextPM sensor measure?

NextPM measures particulate matter in three standard fractions—PM1, PM2.5, and PM10—as well as particle counts across five granulometric channels (0.3-0.5 µm, 0.5-1 µm, 1-2.5 µm, 2.5-5 µm, and 5-10 µm).

Q: How accurate is the NextPM sensor compared to traditional instruments?

NextPM sensors have shown excellent accuracy, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.95 when compared to certified reference instruments in independent field studies.

Q: Does NextPM require frequent maintenance?

No. The NextPM sensor includes patented humidity management and anti-clogging technology, significantly reducing maintenance needs. Its design allows up to 10 years of continuous use with minimal maintenance.

Q: How does NextPM handle humidity issues?

NextPM features a patented humidity regulation system using internal heating resistors that maintain humidity levels inside the sensor below 60%. This prevents particle swelling and ensures accurate measurements even in humid environments.

Q: What communication protocols are available with NextPM?

NextPM supports UART, Modbus, offering flexibility and ease of integration with various systems.