Specialist creates app to help combat mold in Army barracks

Tool integrates a series of sensors to track temperature, humidity.

Fort Stewart has been battling mold in its barracks for months now, including a stand-down to find and address the issue. Now a specialist has come up with a new tool to fight mold — sensors and an app.

The Mold Conditions Awareness Tool integrates a series of sensors to track room temperature and humidity, according to a news release from Fort Stewart. The app was developed by U.S. Army Spc. Salem Ezz, who serves as the lead software engineer at the 3rd Infantry Division’s Marne Innovation Center.

The prototype is currently running in nine rooms as a pilot program, according to Maj. Angel Tomko, a public affairs officer for the Army. The pilot will likely run for two to three months. In addition to sensors, the program includes a button that soldiers can push to find mold in their rooms.

“The goal of the sensor is prevention,” Tomko wrote in an email. “If they can collect enough data to determine which specific humidity and temperature conditions grow mold, the appropriate agencies can react before it becomes an issue.”

Ezz is an infantryman, Tomko said, but had a longstanding interest in software development. A year ago, he went to an Army coding boot camp.

The fort on Sept. 12 held a stand-down day to address mold, mostly in the 30 Volunteer Army barracks, which total 2,300 rooms on post. They do not meet current Army standards. One barrack building was renovated last year, while four more are being demolished.

At the time of the stand down, Fort Stewart said that no soldiers had been permanently moved or reported health impacts from the mold.

As of Sept. 27, following the stand down, there were 454 work orders for mold.

SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS An Army specialist helped develop an app to track mold conditions at Fort Stewart’s barracks. The Army said no soldiers reported health impacts from the mold.