Theater

For the conclusion of our study we decided collectively as a group  to deploy our sensor in the Glendon Theatre - Théâtre Glendon. Like the COE,  the theatre is a large open space that experiences a high volume of traffic mostly during peak times, whether it is rehearsals, the staging of shows or actually holding an event/show. The theatre was of significant interest as a location to use for our research because it experiences a high volume of people in one space for several hours, and other times it stays completely empty. The sensor is currently stage left, backstage about five feet from the ground which helps to maintain the accuracy of the air-flow in that area.

We began to deploy our sensor on March 14 - present (as the sensor is currently collecting data). It is important to note that we could not determine exactly what times were busier or had a larger number of people in the theatre than other times being that preparation for shows varied day-by-day. What we could determine is due to the pandemic and university closure, no shows were held in the theatre at the time of the data collection. Due to the area being used for various uses in preparation for shows we chose this location with the objective of determining the air quality without persons in the theatre compared to when there were people in the theatre (on balenaSense there were peaks and lows in air quality which could justify this objective further).

When deploying the sensor, the air quality fluctuated throughout the day and weeks when the data was pulled to complete this analysis. The average air quality score was 250 at certain times the air quality was unhealthy where other times it was good. Due to the data fluctuating regularity it was difficult to get an accurate reading and determine the reasons for the peaks and lows.

The biggest difficulty as expressed amongst other research areas, was  ensuring that the sensor was properly connected and collecting data. This was a challenge at first but then we were luckily to be able to get an extension cord so that the sensor could be fully charged at all times. At some points when trying to collect data from the online database it was either disconnected or had an error on it. Also we needed to ensure that the sensor stayed intact and put signs up so crew members would not unplug/move the sensor from the specific area. It became a tedious process, but now with there being no one in the theatre we are able to continue our research with the peace-of-mind that the sensor will not be tampered with (at least for now).

Overall the air quality score in the location tended to fluctuate between 50 and 100, Moderate or Unhealthy from 150 to 200. The only times that the air quality was “Good” may have been due to the door being open which in this case was the two fire doors directly located across from the sensor that may have allowed for better airflow in the area. Also the theatre overall with the on hanging lights and curtains creates a lot of dust especially when there is a disturbance of that dust with props and other sorts of sand dust from the wood flowing around in the air. This may be the cause for the unhealthy air-quality reading and there is a need for better flow of air in the theatre itself aside from opening the fire doors that lead to outside.

- Natalie