Recruitment framework for participatory sensing data collections

Abstract

Mobile phones have evolved from devices that are just used for voice and text communication to platforms that are able to capture and transmit a range of data types (image, audio, and location). The adoption of these increasingly capable devices by society has enabled a potentially pervasive sensing paradigm - participatory sensing. A coordinated participatory sensing system engages individuals carrying mobile phones to explore phenomena of interest using in situ data collection. For participatory sensing to succeed, several technical challenges need to be solved. In this paper, we discuss one particular issue: developing a recruitment framework to enable organizers to identify well-suited participants for data collections based on geographic and temporal availability as well as participation habits. This recruitment system is evaluated through a series of pilot data collections where volunteers explored sustainable processes on a university campus. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.