Optimizing measurement and data interpretation of
electromagnetic field strength
- Completed
Project -
In an era in which
exposure to electromagnetic radiation from various electric/electronic
machinery and devices is more and more intense, measuring the strength
of the electromagnetic field (EMF) in relation with the maximal values
allowed has become as important as monitoring the quality of air or
water.
Although the
market offers a wide range of EMF measuring devices, and many companies
provide measurements on request, neither the individual nor the mediated
measurements are executed correctly or adequately. The
technical-constructive features of the devices make the measured values
dependent upon the spatiality of the monitored source, the positioning
of the sensor head, and the bandwidth frequency of the source.
As concerns the
interpretation of the measured data, the simple fit of a value within an
interval of allowed values found in the tables provided by ICNIRP is not
always relevant. Interpretation through the direct fit within a table of
values is relevant when we monitor each detectable source individually,
but when we consider an environmental measurement concerning the
cumulated effect of several sources, such a simplistic fit loses
relevance. Even if every source has its field parameters within the
allowed limits in the measured point, this does not mean that the
cumulated effect at the simultaneous exposure in the same point is
within the allowed limits. Moreover, some sources are not detectable due
to the frequency range within which the meter’s sensor operates (the
real situation), and therefore an adequate interpretation is much more
complex, requiring the theoretic contribution of applied mathematics.
The Infarom team
of applied mathematicians ran in 2011 a project to optimize the process
of measurement and interpretation of the EMF strength, aiming to provide
an optimal algorithm for interpretation of the measured data (in
relation with the maximal values allowed published by ICNIRP). Such an
algorithm should be applied to the measurements in proximity to sources,
but especially to the environmental measurements aiming to assess the
cumulated effect of the radiation, under the condition that not all of
the sources are observable or detectable (with unknown frequencies).
Because the result
of an environmental measurement was usually interpreted (erroneously) in
an absolute mode by comparing the value with the allowed values and
ignoring the multitude of sources of various frequencies, a mathematical
algorithm was necessary for the adequate interpretation of these
measurements.
We have obtained an algorithm of measurement and interpretation that
uses all the information provided by the measurement as well as
information specific to the monitored location. The algorithm is
synthesized and edited in a ready-to-use form for the measuring
operator. The assessment of the cumulated effect of the radiation in
conditions of uncertainty is done by assigning probability labels in a
probability field created on the basis of available information.
In brief, we have
estimated a probability for the sum
(where
is
the strength of the electric field of source number j, and
is
the maximal value allowed for the strength of the electric field of the
same source) to be either subunitary or supraunitary (the general
criterion of fitting or not fitting into the interval of allowed values
for the cumulated effect of several sources); that probability depends
on certain particular conditions of the monitored location and is
defined on the basis of the following idealizations necessary for
establishing the probability field: the uniform distribution of the RF
or LF sources of any location over the entire bandwidth frequency and a
certain proportion of the RF and LF sources for each type of location.
The final interpretation algorithm assigns to each measured value and
type of location a specific probability label and is edited in a
ready-to-apply form.
Infarom is the
only company worldwide that has developed such an optimized algorithm of
measurement and interpretation and implemented it in the measuring
process for any operator, regardless of the individual’s qualifications.
Infarom has identified the most reliable EMF meters, having the best
quality/price ratio. Infarom’s customers who acquire an EMF meter
receive at no additional cost the entire documentation for optimized
measurement, including the algorithmic instructions for adequate
measurement and interpretation of the results.
Infarom has also
published a website dedicated to electromagnetic field and EMF
measurement, where you can become familiar with the basic concepts and
from where you can acquire an EMF tester:
http://electromagnetic-field.infarom.com.
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