Use of, Satisfaction with, and Requirements for in situ pH Sensors.

Abstract

The fundamental goal of this survey was to assess user needs and applications and to provide the focus for an Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT, www.act-us.info) Technology Verification of in situ pH sensors. The Customer Needs and Use Assessment strives to better understand how pH sensors are used. We hope this information can also assist manufacturers in refining pH sensor technologies to better address user priorities.From 6 October 2011 to 9 February 2012, ACT conducted a web-based survey to aid in a Customer Needs and Use Assessment of pH sensors. ACT Headquarters and Partner personnel developed the questionnaire. SurveyMonkey.com provided the web-based survey tool. The survey contained a total of twenty-seven questions (listed below along with their responses), divided into three sections: Application, Specifications, and Recommendations.Survey participants included both colleagues and vendors. Colleagues were asked to consider the primary in situ pH sensor(s) they used when responding to each question. Unaware if any specific vendor (sensor manufacturer) had its own proprietary statistics collected already, vendors were simply asked to summarize what they felt were the perspectives of their “typical” customers. All participants received emailed requests to participate in this online survey and two follow-up reminders To assure broad geographic coverage, regional outreach personnel at the six ACT Partner Institutions and members of the Technical Advisory committee nominated participants based on their professional interests, background, and expertise. Approximately 173 coastal resource managers, regulatory and environmental health agency representatives, manufacturers, and scientific researchers were targeted to take part in the survey; 24% responded.