Data acquisition and data analysis in colorimetric sensor arrays

Responses in colorimetric sensor arrays are based on the monitoring color changes of chemical transducers by multichannel spectrophotometers or imaging recorders such as scanners, digital camera and smartphones. The images are then digitized using different image analysis algorithms. The array based methods provide a multi-dimensional data containing analytical, noise and outlier information. The inconsistent data can be removed or decreased by data pre-processing methods. Based on the goal of researches, the refined data can be processed by the pattern recognition methods for qualitative analysis or a by the multivariate regression models for quantitative analysis. This article explains (i) the mechanism of data collection using different types of readers, (ii) introduces the types and applications of algorithms and software for image digitalization, (iii) represents information about data preprocessing, variable selection and multivariate statistical methods and (iv) evaluates their applications in processing of colorimetric sensor array data published during the last decade.