Signal Through the Noise: Improving Radon Readings with a Kalman Filter
CWSF · 2026 Digital Technology
Overview
Radon is an invisible, odourless gas that can cause lung cancer. In Nova Scotia, more than one-third of homes exceed the safe limit set by Health Canada. Many families use affordable sensors costing around $200, and some borrow them for free through lending programs. The problem is that these sensors are not accurate enough. A reading of 180 Bq/m³ could actually be anywhere from 135-225 Bq/m³, making it hard to know if a home is safe. This project tested whether a math tool called a Kalman filter could make these sensors more trustworthy. The filter looks at each reading, figures out how much to trust it, and produces a cleaner estimate. Tested on 17 days of radon data, it reduced sensor noise by nearly 29% and reported a confidence range alongside every reading. The best part is that this fix is just software, families don't need to buy anything new.
Awards (1)
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
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