Electromagnetic Field Assessment as a Smart City Service: The SmartSantander Use-Case.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2017 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 4919

Study snapshot

PublicationSensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2017

Study typeengineering

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Despite the increasing presence of wireless communications in everyday life, there exist some voices raising concerns about their adverse effects. One particularly relevant example is the potential impact of the electromagnetic field they induce on the population's health. Traditionally, very specialized methods and devices (dosimetry) have been used to assess the strength of the E-field, with the main objective of checking whether it respects the corresponding regulations. In this paper, we propose a complete novel approach, which exploits the functionality leveraged by a smart city platform. We deploy a number of measuring probes, integrated as sensing devices, to carry out a characterization embracing large areas, as well as long periods of time. This unique platform has been active for more than one year, generating a vast amount of information. We process such information, and the obtained results validate the whole methodology. In addition, we discuss the variation of the E-field caused by cellular networks, considering additional information, such as usage statistics. Finally, we establish the exposure that can be attributed to the base stations within the scenario under analysis.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

Exposuremore than one year

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

The authors propose and deploy a smart-city-platform-based approach using multiple measuring probes to characterize E-field exposure over large areas and long time periods. Data collected over more than one year were processed, and the results are reported to validate the methodology; the paper also discusses E-field variation related to cellular network usage and attributes exposure to base stations in the studied scenario.

Outcomes measured

Electric field (E-field) strength characterization over large areas and long periods
Variation of E-field associated with cellular network usage
Estimated exposure attributable to base stations

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "more than one year"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electric field (E-field) strength characterization over large areas and long periods",
    "Variation of E-field associated with cellular network usage",
    "Estimated exposure attributable to base stations"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The authors propose and deploy a smart-city-platform-based approach using multiple measuring probes to characterize E-field exposure over large areas and long time periods. Data collected over more than one year were processed, and the results are reported to validate the methodology; the paper also discusses E-field variation related to cellular network usage and attributes exposure to base stations in the studied scenario.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "smart city",
    "SmartSantander",
    "electromagnetic field assessment",
    "E-field",
    "dosimetry",
    "measuring probes",
    "cellular networks",
    "base stations",
    "exposure assessment",
    "wireless communications"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.1,
      "reason": "Mentions dosimetry and measurement methodology, but no occupational setting is specified; weak match."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3390/s17061250
PubMed: 28561783

Read the original paper →

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