DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MULTI-APPLICATION NANO-SENSORS

The problem focuses on the need to design and construct buildings that offer much higher energy efficiency than is currently available. Hence, it is crucial not only to develop new materials that can be used in this sector but also to measure, monitor and inspect the service variables of these buildings.

Among the possible nano-sensors available for use in the construction sector, below are a few of the service or control variables that could be used as objectives in the development of this project:

•  Measurement / detection of temperature, in standard environmental conditions, with a measurement range from –20 ºC up to 55 ºC, and under atmospheric pressure conditions.
• Measurement / detection of moisture, also under conventional atmospheric conditions, ranging from 0% HR to 100% HR.
• Measurement / detection of chemicals that could be harmful to users' health during occupancy or construction. The substances that can be detected are: gaseous fuels, COVs, CO2, CO, etc.
• Detection of presence, for access control or security systems (alarms and demand control systems, etc).
• Measurement / detection of the deformation of structural elements or components in the building envelope, to evaluate the behaviour of buildings in situand in real time. The deformation values will depend both on the rigidity of the materials and the applications for which they are being used.

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MULTI-APPLICATION NANO-SENSORS

SITUATION: Completed

Financing: Gobierno de Navarra, Programa EUROINNOVA

Collaboration: Universidad Pública de Navarra, Asociación de la Industria Navarra, Fundación L’Urederra, Cemitec, Goikoa, Argal, Pamplonica, CNTA, Simes-senco, dRaiz, CINFA

Date of presentation: June, 2007

Date of beginning: September, 2007

Date of ending: September, 2010