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Short Abstract

We analyse the role of sociotechnical infrastructure in aligning citizen science data with official air quality monitoring. The Dutch Measure Together project, receiving data from 4000+ sensors, balances local data and participatory approaches with evolving standardisation processes.

Abstract

Citizens are increasingly using low-cost sensors to measure their surroundings, for example air quality. Sensor measurements offer greater temporal and spatial resolution and have the potential to complement official monitoring practices. However, integration of citizen science (CS) data into official frameworks remains limited. CS data are often perceived as “messy”, with barriers such as concerns about data quality, lack of standard methodologies, and perceptions of unreliability. While these challenges are well-documented, the critical role of infrastructure in bridging CS data and institutional frameworks has received less attention. This study examines the Dutch case of Measure Together, a government-funded project and community that acts as a boundary organisation between CS initiatives and institutional air quality monitoring. The project currently receives data from over 4000 sensors, illustrating the scale and reach of citizen involvement. We explore how CS infrastructure emerges through relational, organisational, and technical factors aimed at making sense of CS data. We further analyse how this infrastructure is beginning to align with official monitoring, resulting in a hybrid infrastructure that combines local data and insights from CS with the standardised approaches of official monitoring. Our analysis highlights critical tensions, including conflicts between local and generic data, the action-oriented expectations of CS participants versus the long-term timelines of official infrastructure, and challenges around trust and standardisation. We conclude by identifying pathways to navigate these tensions, emphasizing the need for adaptive, participatory infrastructure that balances rigour with societal relevance.