A method for measuring and determining a pulse arrival time (PAT) value of a user using a sensor device having a photoplethysmographic (PPG) multichannel sensor formed from a plurality of PPG sensor channels and being adapted to measure a set of PPG signals, each PPG signal being measured by one of the PPG sensor channels when the multichannel PPG sensor is in contact with the user; having: measuring the set of PPG signals; extracting a plurality of features from each of the measured PPG signals; selecting a subset from the set of PPG signals based on the extracted features; and processing the selected subset of PPG signals to determine the PAT value. The disclosed sensor and method can be embedded into a chest belt and do not need skilled supervision. They can represent a potential candidate for the implantation of PWV measurement campaigns in the ambulatory setting.