Due to increasing availability and functionality of smartphones, the use of applications in work-related areas gains attention. An increasing number of sensors, complementary software solutions for the measurement of environmental factors and the determination of health-related data can lead to the conclusion that these small computers are appropriate instruments for the measurement and evaluation of work-related environmental factors.
Therefore, the possibilities of smartphones to capture the work environment factors noise, climate and lighting are investigated in the article. Here, the focus of our studies is to quantify the measurement qualities in comparison to normative standards. For that purpose empirical measurements at the Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau and at the Technische Universität Chemnitz were conducted to cover various context of uses. As result conclusions are drawn to the suitability of smartphones to measure the working environment factors noise, climate and lighting with adequate measurement precision.
Practical Relevance In recent years, an increasing use of smartphones for indicative measurement and assessment of work environment factors can be noticed in companies under the assumption to obtain adequate measurement results. In the article, capacity of smartphones to measure environment factors are compared with normative specifications. Following the performed empirical and scientific measurements, a basis to evaluate the quality of measurement environment factors by using smartphone application is established. This data can be used as a reliable basis of discussion and decision of possible scenarios in which smartphones can be used for the measurement of working environment factors.