Validating the CalFit Smartphone Sensor in Two Epidemiological Investigations

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT We propose to assess the validity, usability, and value of a novel cell phone-based personal exposure measurement system known as "CalFit" in two existing epidemiologic studies. The CalFit system runs on commercially available Android phones, and as currently configured, we can collect data on physical activity with accelerometry, geographic location through a global positioning system (GPS), air pollution, and self- reported environments, including mood, and behaviors with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) through interactive text messages. The CalFit system has already undergone numerous controlled validation studies and is ready for evaluation in large epidemiological studies. The combined measurement of physical activity, location and mobility, exposure to air pollution, and EMA represents a major advance in sensor technology. We will evaluate the instrument in two ongoing epidemiological investigations: (1) the Healthy PLACES study in Southern California, which is examining the impact of the built environment on physical activity and obesity in a Smart Growth community and five adjacent communities; and (2) in the Transportation, Air Pollution and physical ActivitieS (TAPAS) project in Barcelona, Spain, focused on determinants of active commuting by bicycling or walking. Both studies have enrolled subjects and are actively collecting accelerometry, GPS, or travel survey data. For Aim 1, we will validate the CalFit GPS and accelerometer by comparing the integrated sensor against current gold standard instruments (the Actigraph accelerometer and the Globalsat GPS). In Aim 2, we will demonstrate the added value of the EMA texting system for understanding self-reported behavior, mood, and social and physical contexts as antecedents, concomitants, and consequences of environmental exposures. For Aim 3, we will combine commercially available sensors with circuit boards developed by our team to measure nitrogen dioxide and ozone in the field. We will merge these data with GPS and accelerometry information to infer likely inhalations of air pollution. To demonstrate value added we will compare the inhalation estimates derived against those from assigning resolved spatial estimates of exposure to the home location. We will also deploy passive sensors for the two pollutants that yield an integrated 1-week sample. These will be compared with the real-time assessments to demonstrate the value added of having the locational and physical activity information merged with the real-time air pollution data, which will allow us to assess indoor and outdoor exposures, the likely inhalation, and the geographic context of the exposures. Cell phones are currently the most ubiquitous computing platform globally, and our research will demonstrate the viability of a cell phone as an exposure characterization tool that will have widespread utility for numerous epidemiological applications.