A 'human-in-the-loop' mobile image recognition application for rapid scanning of water quality test results

Abstract

This paper describes an interactive system for drinking water quality testing in small community supplies, particularly in the developing world. The system combines a low-cost field test (the Aquatest field kit), a mobile phone for data processing and communications, and a human operator who is able to react immediately to a test result. Once a water sample has been collected and incubated, the mobile phone camera is used to 'scan' the test and obtain the result, which is displayed to the user along with information about the health implications of the water quality. Initial prototypes, while not yet sufficiently robust for real-world use, demonstrate that the system is technically feasible. This opens up interesting possibilities for wider use of 'human-in-the-loop' sensor systems in environmental monitoring.