IoT Air Pollution Monitoring System Architecture

Introduction

As we know, air pollution poses a significant threat to the environment, impacting humans, crops, animals, cities, forests, and aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, uncontrolled air pollution can exacerbate global warming. An IoT-based air pollution monitoring system can help us monitor, detect, and measure the various pollutants present in the atmosphere. It can also alert authorities when air quality deteriorates below a certain limit.

Air Pollution System Components and Working

The following figure illustrates the basic architecture of an IoT-based air pollution monitoring system. As shown, it consists of a microcontroller board, sensors (temperature, humidity, gas), a power adapter, indicators, and a cloud server.

Let’s explore how an IoT-based air pollution system works:

• Microcontroller Unit: This is the central component of the system. It interfaces with various sensors and LED indicators. Popular choices include ESP32, ESP8266, NodeMCU, and ARM-based controllers. These microcontrollers often include a built-in Wi-Fi chip for connecting to cloud servers. Programming is usually done on a desktop IDE, and the program is then uploaded to the microcontroller. The Arduino IDE is a popular open-source software option for writing and uploading code to Arduino boards.

• Air Pollution Sensors: These sensors detect and measure different pollutants. Common types include:

  • Temperature/Humidity sensors (e.g., DHT11)
  • Gas sensors (e.g., MQ-135)
  • Particulate matter sensors (e.g., PMS5003)
  • Air quality sensors (e.g., Bosch BME680)
  • CO2 sensors
  • NO2 sensors
  • Ozone sensors
  • SO2 sensors

• AC/DC Power Adapter: This device converts AC power from the mains to the DC voltage required by the system components.

• LED Indicators: These LEDs provide visual feedback on air quality levels, such as low, medium, or high.

• Cloud Servers: Popular cloud platforms for IoT applications include ThinkSpeak, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Firebase, and Blynk Cloud. Wi-Fi connectivity allows the microcontroller board to upload data to these cloud servers. Data can also be transmitted via other wired and wireless mediums like fiber optic cables, cellular towers, and satellites.

Benefits or Advantages of Air Pollution Monitoring System

Here are the benefits and advantages of an IoT-based air pollution monitoring system:

1. Real-time Insights: IoT sensors provide real-time data on pollution levels, allowing authorities to take prompt action based on fluctuations.

2. Accurate Data: IoT sensors deliver highly accurate data, ensuring reliable information for decision-making and policy formulation.

3. Extensive Coverage: Wide installation of IoT sensors offers extensive coverage to monitor air quality across a wide area.

4. Cost-Effective: IoT-based systems are more cost-effective to deploy and maintain over time compared to traditional methods.

5. Easy Access to Data: Data collected can be accessed via web interfaces or mobile applications, making it easy for stakeholders to access information.

6. Early Warning System: Serves as an early warning system, alerting authorities and the public to take appropriate measures to mitigate pollution.

7. Pollution Source Identification: Data helps identify potential sources of pollution, facilitating more effective environmental management strategies.

8. Public Awareness: Real-time data helps raise public awareness about health risks associated with air pollution, empowering individuals to take precautions.

9. Smart City Integration: This system can be integrated into smart city initiatives to enhance overall urban sustainability.

10. Development of New Technologies: The wealth of data collected can help in the development of new technologies and solutions for pollution control and mitigation.