A Conversation with Maria Figols, Co-Founder of InBiot
On this week’s Air Quality Matters, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maria Figols, Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder of InBiot. Maria brings an impressive experience in healthy, sustainable, and efficient building design. As a technical architect and building engineer with a master's in building biology, Maria’s expertise in connecting technology and human health is evident in her work at InBiot, a company on the cutting edge of indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring. During our discussion, we talked about the evolution of low-cost sensors, the balance between precision and practicality, and how data drives meaningful change in the built environment.
The Evolution of Low-Cost Sensors
Maria’s journey with low-cost sensors reflects the rapid advancements in this space over the past decade. “We’ve moved from bulky, single-function devices to compact, multi-parameter systems that measure CO2, TVOCs, PM2.5, and even formaldehyde simultaneously,” she explained. Initially, low-cost sensors were experimental and intended for DIY setups or academic research. However, their reliability, accuracy, and connectivity have since matured, transforming them into powerful tools for scalable deployment in real-world settings.
Maria highlighted an important shift in focus within the industry: moving from purely technical performance to understanding how sensor data can translate into actionable insights. This shift ensures the data—whether it’s about PM spikes or long-term air quality trends—has real value for improving health and building performance.
Balancing Precision and Practicality
Low-cost sensors have their limitations, particularly when compared to lab-grade instruments. However, as Maria emphasised, “It’s not about achieving lab-level precision. It’s about capturing trends and providing reliable information over the long term.” For instance, continuous monitoring can uncover patterns, such as recurring air quality issues tied to specific activities or HVAC operations. These insights are invaluable for guiding interventions.
Maria also shared InBiot’s rigorous validation process, which includes lab tests, cross-device comparisons, and device-to-device calibration. Their goal is to maintain high reproducibility and reliability while addressing challenges like sensor drift and environmental noise.
Beyond the Numbers: Human-Centered Technology
A cornerstone of their approach is its emphasis on user-friendly design. Maria explained that their devices are not just tools for professionals but are designed to make air quality data accessible to everyone. This includes integrating visual indicators, like lights, and offering adaptable reporting formats—from simple dashboards to detailed box plots for consultants and researchers.
“We’re not just about selling sensors,” Maria noted. “Our focus is on creating actionable insights.” InBiot’s platform offers tailored feedback based on building types and scenarios, ensuring that users—whether homeowners or facility managers—understand what their data means and how to act on it.
Innovation at the Bleeding Edge
They are pushing the boundaries of what low-cost sensors can achieve, venturing into challenging areas like formaldehyde, NO2, and ozone detection. Maria acknowledged the complexities of measuring these pollutants, including cross-sensitivities and background noise, but shared her optimism about ongoing advancements. “The progress we’ve made in formaldehyde detection is promising,” she said, noting improvements in sensor specificity and reliability.
The company is also exploring how data from these sensors can be contextualised to inform long-term health and building performance decisions. For example, it researches how to correlate IAQ data with human experiences in different environments, such as schools, homes, and hospitals.
Looking Ahead
As we wrapped up, Maria reflected on the future of IAQ technology. She’s hopeful for innovations that provide more granular insights into pollutants, such as speciated PM analysis or more precise VOC measurements. At the same time, she emphasised the importance of broader adoption of healthier building materials to reduce pollution sources at the outset.
Maria’s passion for integrating technology, health, and environmental impact was clear throughout our conversation. “Technology isn’t static,” she said. “It’s about continuously adapting and innovating to create solutions that make a difference for people and the planet.”
Their work exemplifies the power of combining cutting-edge technology with a human-centred approach. By making air quality data more accessible and actionable, they’re helping to drive meaningful change in how we design, operate, and live in buildings.
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