- Posted on 29 May 2025
- 2-minute read
Household mould is an often hidden but serious health risk. Now UTS researchers are leading a project to provide real-time detection of harmful mould spores indoors.
Mould is a major indoor pollutant in Australia, thriving in damp, poorly ventilated spaces. It’s linked to various health issues and affects up to 40 percent of buildings, causing over $5 billion a year in asthma-related costs.
Despite the known risks, Associate Professor Nicholas Surawski from the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) School of Civil and Environmental Engineering says current mould detection methods remain slow and inadequate.
“Traditional mould detection methods are labour intensive and often take weeks to deliver results which leaves vulnerable communities at risk,” Associate Professor Surawski said.
“We urgently need faster, smarter tools that can provide real-time data which will enable timely, targeted interventions.”
He’s leading a new NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) Grand Challenge Fund project which seeks to address these limitations with a transformative sensing technology.
It uses the SMART (spore monitoring and reporting technology) device developed by industry partner BioScout to detect airborne fungal crop diseases such as botrytis and downy mildew.
“This system combines automated imaging, machine learning and cloud connectivity to classify spores and monitor air quality in near real time – delivering continuous measurements with minimal human input,” Associate Professor Surawski said.
For the first time, researchers will adapt and validate this advanced device for indoor use by training its algorithms to accurately detect indoor mould spores among common airborne particles.
“We’re training the SMART system to detect harmful mould spores with precision – and to deliver that information in near-real time, fast enough for people to act,” Dr Michelle Demers, Head of Science at BioScout said.
“We’re excited to be a part of this project because it has the potential to help us bring rapid, accurate air quality insights where they’re needed most: in schools, homes, operating theatres, and workplaces.”
The Development of an automated spore monitoring and reporting technology project is being co-led by a research team with expertise in environmental engineering, biotechnology, and environmental health.
The team also includes Dr Peter Irga and Associate Professor Fraser Torpy from UTS; Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health and Management Dr Margaret Davidson and Lecturer in Environmental Health Dr Sadegh Niaziesfyani from Western Sydney University; and Dror Dagan and Megan Deveson from BioScout.