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Portable Arduino Based Air Quality Monitoring System: Polytechnic University of The Philippines
Portable Arduino Based Air Quality Monitoring System: Polytechnic University of The Philippines
A study
Presented to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Sta. Mesa, Manila
By:
Jerome A. Balatbat
Rogelio Bautista
Ariane S. De Guzman
ACKNOWLEDEGEMENT
We would like to express our most sincere gratitude and appreciation to our
Professor, Dr. Ginno L. Andres, for supervising us throughout the project. His skills
and knowledge have given us enough support for completing this project. Also, for
We would also like to thank our parents who never failed to give their support
financially, and morally to the researchers for in able to complete the project.
To the institution, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, for yielding and
Development.
Above all, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Almighty God for
giving us strength, wisdom, mercy and grace, and spiritual support thus, we can
ABSTRACT
Air pollution, one of the major environmental issues in the Philippines, continuously
give birth to threats and yet the country’s locale-based air quality monitoring system
is expensive and limited. To aid the issue, the study was conducted utilizing
microcontroller (Arduino Mega 2560) – dust & gas sensors system. The researcher
aims to design and develop a portable Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS) that
capable of measuring various type of air pollutants. The study utilized low-cost
sensors namely Sharp’s GP2Y1010AU0F Optical Dust Sensor (for PM 2.5 & PM10)
and SGP30 Metal-Oxide (MOX) Gas Sensor (for Total Volatile Organic Compounds
& Carbon Dioxide). The monitoring device was tested in Tagaytay City. The data
obtained from the device was then compared to the location’s air-quality index
(AQI) with the help of real-time monitoring system from the internet. The results
showed that the portable AQMS and the real-time AQI air quality interpretations are
the same, both display good quality of air. However, the study is preliminary in
nature and needing improvement. This monitoring system will provide information
especially for the university community to determine the quality of the air on
campus and to lessen its pollution. Overall, the study served as neo monitoring
system for air quality locally and potential use can be maximized.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page 1
Acknowledgement 2
Abstract 3
Chapter I:
Introduction 6
Theoretical Framework 7
Conceptual Framework 9
Definition of Terms 12
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
accustomed of. We see a lot of activities that focuses on controlling and monitoring
different forms of pollution. Air pollution is one of such form that has become one of
concerning issues in today’s society. Air affects directly to our health; it goes in and
out of the human body system. Air is what keeps any living organism alive, from
plants to animals to human, it requires a certain amount of air to live. The addition
of harmful substances to the atmosphere causes air pollution which damages the
increase of pollution. Air pollution may occur inside homes, schools, offices and
Particle pollutants in the air come from both natural and man-made sources such
as vehicle exhaust emissions, soil and road dust, volcanic eruptions and smoke
in air for a few seconds and travel anywhere. Total Suspended Particulates are the
tiny particles in atmosphere with diameters equal or less than 100 micrometers.
Particulate Matter that are less than 10 micrometers are called PM 10 while
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particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers are called PM 2.5. These
particulate matters are great health concern as they can infiltrate the lungs.
Health Organization (WHO), the Philippines ranks third on the highest cases of
death due to air pollution with an average of 45.3 deaths per 100,000 individuals
records also states that the current rate of air quality in the Philippine doesn’t meet
analysis. Constant monitoring allows us to have the knowledge about the change in
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The following are the underlying principles and theories supporting the
rationales are comprehended for the feasibility and effectivity of the proposed
system.
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displayed by the device for the public to be knowledgeable of how polluted the air
their breathing is and take proper measures to alleviate the problems posed by air
Monitoring
The device should be monitoring continuously for the public to know the real-time
AQI and if the air they are breathing is considered to be safe. The device should be
designed to incessantly monitor the air environment without anything that causes it
Public Awareness
The public should be aware of the information gathered by the system or the
way for the public to know what the data gathered meant.
Portability
The device should consider portability on its design. This should make the device
easier to use and cost-effective when a certain area needs to be monitored short-
term or long-term for observation. The device should be easily be moved and
Costing
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this research must considered. Choosing the most cost-effective materials and
components would help the device to be mass produced on the future for the
Filipino people anywhere in the country to be aware of the air environment they are
in. Accuracy and effectiveness of the device should not suffer when considering
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
FIG. 1.1 Research Paradigm of the Arduino Based-Air Quality Monitoring System
The input will be coming from the sensors monitoring incessantly the air
environment. The sensors will then send the electronic signals to the Arduino Mega
The Microcontroller will then process the data gathered by the sensors. The output
will then be displayed on the LCD and the lighting of the LED lights .
ELECTRONIC
SWITCH ON DEVICES STARTS
THE SYTEM (SENSORS, SENSORS
BOAARD, LCD)
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FIG. 1.2 Flow diagram of the Arduino-Based Air Quality Monitoring System
As shown on fig. 1.2, the AQMS needs power for the system to function,
thus, a power source will switch on the whole system. The electronic devices such
as the sensors, microcontroller board, and LCD will boot up, thus starting the
system, the LCD will show pre-programmed text for aesthetic purposes. The
sensors will monitor the air environment continuously as long as power is available.
The data flow then will be incessant. The Arduino microcontroller board will also
process the data gathered by the sensors from the environment and serve as the
communication medium between the electronic devices. The data processed by the
programmed to display the output as per the researchers’ liking on the chosen
output display mediums. Output will be on the form of text shown on the LCD
display and will be interpreted as the real-time AQI. Another output will be the LED
lights: green for good AQI; yellow for moderate AQI; and red for bad AQI.
The manual and real time stations are situated in highly urbanized cities and
also rural areas nationwide. However, due to high cost of materials used and the
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system being not a portable device there are inadequate air monitoring systems.
The lack of the monitoring systems results in representing only the small portion of
OBJECTIVES
This research aims to collect data of air quality in different parts of Tagaytay,
for 2 hours of collection of data. The said data will be focused on the particulate
matter, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compound. Particulate matters are
determined via the dust particles present in the air. The researchers have the dust
density of the air in µg/ m3. Volatile organic compound in parts per billion (ppb), and
carbon dioxide are determined via a gas sensor amounting to parts per million
(ppm).
The study regarding Air Quality Monitoring System will be beneficial to all students
of Polytechnic University of the Philippines, the residents around the campus, and
the government which they can use to sustain a clean and green environment. The
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project can be an alternative for high-end real-time air quality monitoring stations
and it is designed for the portability of the designated location. The device does not
need any supervision since the device can automatically store and monitor the air
Also, it can be used for experimental apparatus for improving its features for a
simple air quality monitoring system. Modification can easily be done to the sensors
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Air Quality Index (AQI): is a numerical scale used for reporting day to day
air quality with regard to human health and the environment. The daily
results of the index are used to convey to the public an estimate of air
pollution level.
Air Quality Monitor: is a device that measures the level of common air
pollutants. Monitors are available for both indoor and outdoor settings.
Criteria Pollutants: are the only air pollutants with national air quality
ambient air. The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen
resistance change of the metal oxide due to adsorption of gases. The gas
processor.
the formation of smog, acid rain, and tropospheric ozone, which is commonly
Optical Dust Sensor: is a dust sensor which detects the reflected light of
ion and occurs when the oxidation state of a molecule, atom or ion is
increased.
Ozone (O3): a colorless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful
ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O2) in having three atoms in
Particulate Matter (PM): is the term for small particles found in the air
ion and occurs when the oxidation state of a molecule, atom or ion is
decreased.
Relative Humidity: the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): a colorless gas with a strong odor, similar to a just-
struck match. It is formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil, is
Chapter 2
Air quality monitoring has become an integral part of smart city solutions
(Liu, X., & Nielsen, P. S. 2017). It is important simply because we have to breathe
the air around us. People who live in industrial cities should be especially
traffic volume across the world have resulted in air quality becoming one of the
most important factors of everyday life. Air quality monitoring is the necessary
factor for proper decision making regarding air pollution(Živkovi, Tomi, Ili, Vuki, &
Stevanovi, 2011). Education and developing air quality awareness are natural
students might learn about air quality issues, sources impacting air pollution, and
variations in air quality in various environments such as work, home, and outdoors.
sensors, especially for individuals who are more sensitive to air pollution. Personal
exposure monitoring may help an individual make decision about the timing and
location of daily activities like commuting and exercise, based on air quality
data(Clements et al., n.d.). The purpose of air quality monitoring is not merely to
collect data but to provide the information required by scientists, policy-makers and
Monitoring fulfils a central role in this process, providing the necessary sound
scientific basis for developing policies and strategies, setting objectives, assessing
Mushtaha, & Abu-dayya, n.d.). The use of low-cost sensors for air quality
citizens measuring air quality themselves. This has major implications for traditional
Agencies(Wesseling et al., 2019). Today, information about the current air quality
is available to the public through websites or mobile apps (for example). High-
quality data for such portals comes from the monitoring stations of governmental
agencies, where automated measuring systems (AMS) are used. However, the
spatial coverage of monitoring stations is not very dense and nowadays new
techniques are sought to improve the spatial and temporal resolution of PM data.
miniaturized low-cost sensor devices and makes them promising tools for air quality
different commercial sensors and a growth in the popularity of the use of such
2018).
Air pollution is a great concern because of its impact on human health and
mankind is dealing with increasing pollution problems. The main pollution sources
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are the side effects of manufacturing, mining, transportation, and power production.
The effects on the human standard of living, number of people affected and the
applied technology are usually taken as the measure of pollutant emissions impacts
to the environment. As the air pollution increases, the effort to understand the
contaminate the air where it may cause harm and discomfort to human being and
other living organisms. It also damages the natural environment and the
atmosphere. The World Health Organization (W.H.O) stated that 2.4 million people
dies each year are directly attributed to air pollution, with 1.5 million of these deaths
were attributable by indoor air pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) which also
known as the Air Pollution Index (API) or Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) is a
number used by many government agencies to characterize the quality of the air at
effects(Azhari et al., 2011). Today more than 1,400 cities worldwide regularly report
on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the Carbon Climate Register
and the Governors Convention initiative (Ahlers et al., 2016). However, emissions
monitoring at the city level is often costly and time-consuming because they relate
to a high degree of uncertainty. Most cities in Europe do not currently possess the
capacity to measure the actual emissions within their urban space. On the other
hand, carbon reduction has become a city development strategy. For example, the
European Union (EU) aims to cut its primary energy consumption by 27% by 2030.
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In Denmark, the government has set the goal of reducing GHG emission by 40% by
2020, and becoming a fossil-fuel free country by 2050. This requires innovating
approaches to reporting air quality for politician and citizens to make quick and
outdoor air contaminant standards for six pollutant types. Maximum allowable
concentration levels for various periods of time are set for these “criteria
Ozone (O3)
Pollutants include Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Ozone
result of burning coal or crude oil in factories and too much exposure can cause
adverse respiratory and heart diseases. Nitrogen Oxides (NO x) are produced as
result of reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in air during combustion and it can
cause breathing problems, headaches, eye irritation and chronically reduced lung
function. Ozone (O3) which when inhaled can result damage in lungs and with
relatively low amounts may result shortness of breath, chest pain and throat
irritation. Carbon Monoxide (CO) which is caused by not fully burned fuel and
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Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) the organic chemicals that produce vapors as it
reacts with nitrogen oxides emitted which in turn forms into smog that also results in
Air pollution can have a short- and long-term effect on our health and a lot of
pollution kills around seven million people. A person inhales about 14,000 liters of
air on a daily average. The presence of pollution in the air can adversely affect
people’s health. Monitoring the air quality lets people be more aware of their
the quality of air is still in good quality and safe for us. This study aims to monitor
the amount present at the most concerning pollutants in the air which are;
particulate matter, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and total volatile organic
compounds. This allows us to know how many pollutants occur in a specific area so
we can recommend any preventive measures to protect ourselves from poor air
quality. This could also help in developing plans that may help in aiding the air
pollution. The gathered data can also be used to expand the air quality information
in the country and may be a way to find better ways to improve the quality of air.
The Clean Air Act required to set National Ambient Air Quality standards for
pollutants which are considered harmful to public health and environment. It is
reviewed periodically and possible to be revised.
Table 2.1 Air quality standard
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used for everything from producing power to manufacturing industry. When the
carbon dioxide in the air is really high it can greatly affect the ozone layer. Over the
years, the depletion of ozone layer cause to increase the average temperature of
the earth.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air
those that cause cancer. Moreover, they can react with other gases and form other
air pollutants after they are in the air. Breathing VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose
and throat, can cause difficulty in breathing, and can damage the central nervous
system as well as other organs. Not all VOCs have all these health effects, though
many have several. Outdoors, VOCs can cause similar health effects, but also can
Particle pollutants in the air not only affects the health of humans but also
affect the environment. Particle pollution levels can be very unhealthy and
hazardous during events such as forest fires. Particle levels can be elevated
diameter are so small that they can get into the lungs, where they can cause
Table 2.2 Particle pollution Air Quality Index (AQI) and actions to protect health
Table 2.3 Carbon monoxide Air Quality Index (AQI) and actions to protect health
201-300
Carbon monoxide or CO is formed when the carbon in fuels does not
and natural sources such as wildfires. Carbon monoxide levels typically are high
during cold weather, because cold temperatures make combustion less complete
and trap pollutants close to the ground. Carbon monoxide enters the bloodstream
through the lungs and binds to haemoglobin, the substance in blood that carries
oxygen to cells. It reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and
during volcano eruptions, forest fires, or dust storms. This has been an occasional
problem for humans. However, during the past hundred years, air pollution created
by humans has become a major, persistent problem. On the other hand, the most
critical air pollutants are human-made(Lin, Lu, Lu, & Lin, 2006). Particle pollution
(also called particulate matter or PM) is the term for a mixture of solid particles and
liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke,
are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small, they
Matter Matters!" 2007). How big are Particle Pollutions? PM10s are particulates
with a diameter less than 10 μm, including dust from road traffic, emission from
transformed from other air pollutants. Due to its small size, PM10 can easily
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penetrate into the bronchus of the human lungs. The respiratory system can be
damaged by the physical presence of PM10 or by the pollutants that are absorbed
on the PM10(Lin et al., 2006). PM2.5 (particles which pass through a size-selective
inlet with a 50% efficiency cut-off at 2.5 µm aerodynamic diameter) have been
bronchioles and the alveoli. Therefore, it may interfere with gas exchange inside the
inhaled PM2.5 (most likely the fraction of particles under 0.1 micrometer) may be
capable to translocate into blood vessels and then spread with the blood to various
particulate matter (PM) on the respiratory system has been known for a long time,
(Penttinen et al., 2001). However, the evaluation of the impact of particulate matter
on the quality of life of patients with bronchial asthma has not yet been widely
analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, only limited evidence exists to suggest that
fine particles measuring less than 10 µm (PM10) has an impact on the quality of life
connection between the quality of life and the concentration of PM10. No studies
The Philippines, and especially its capital region, Metro Manilla, is just
subjected to Air Pollution just like any other countries in Asia. Quoted from
Metro Manila are still higher than acceptable levels ...". The good ranking of
Philippine cities in the 2018 World Air Quality Report is not a cause for celebration,
monitoring systems in the country. Eleven of the cities in Southeast Asia with
AirVisual and Greenpeace. The report measured the amount of fine particulate
the list of cleanest cities in Southeast Asia with 9.3 µg/m³, which is pursuant to the
threshold of the World Health Organization at 10 µg/m³. Valenzuela City (9.9 µg/m³)
and Carmona City (10.9 µg/m³) ranked second and third, respectively. “The good
ranking of Philippine cities in the global report is not a cause for celebration as we
have the least average number of monitoring stations per city in the region,” Khevin
Yu, Greenpeace Philippines campaigner, said. He added: “In fact the report
monitoring networks for the public to fully understand the state of quality in the
Philippines.” The air quality data in the report is generated from ground-based
explained that the study had to rely on the use of only one or two devices in the 16
cities highlighted, most of which are not located near coal-fired power plants. Coal
plant emissions are major contributors to PM2.5 pollution. According to the group,
coal plant emissions could kill at least 2,400 Filipinos annually. “The report
therefore represents only a small fraction of the air pollution in the country. Given
more thorough and comprehensive research in cities near coal power plants and
other sources of air pollution,” Yu said. Seven of the 15 Southeast Asian cities on
the list are in Metro Manila: Valenzuela City (9.9 µg/m³), Parañaque (12.2 µg/m³),
Makati (13.7 µg/m³), Manila (14.3 µg/m³), Mandaluyong (14.5 µg/m³), Quezon (17.5
µg/m³) and Las Piñas (17.9 µg/m³). Other Philippine cities that made it to the list
were: Carmona (10.9 µg/m³), Davao (12.2 µg/m³) and Balanga (16.1 µg/m³).
Meycauayan (32.4 µg/m³) and Caloocan (31.4 µg/m³), on the other hand, were
included on the list of most polluted cities in the region. “Anyone in the country who
has been in cities and main thoroughfares of Metro Manila and Calamba knows that
we have air pollution problems,” Yu said. He added: “As Greenpeace has done in
Thailand, we are urging the Philippine government to improve our air pollution
standards and put publicly accessible monitoring systems in place for further
The air quality problems in the Philippines arise principally from domestic
sources. Given its geography and meteorology and the absence of emissions from
neighbors to the west, the country does not suffer from the continental problems of
Urban smog, smoke-belching buses, and industrial smoke stacks. These are
prominent and visible reminders of the need to manage air quality. However, air
pollution is not just an aesthetic problem; it can also cause acute and long-term
health effects – personally and economically very damaging. The health cost of air
pollution in four cities (Metro Manila, Davao, Cebu, and Baguio) has been
estimated to be more than US$400 million per year, equivalent to 0.6 percent of the
country's national gross domestic product (GDP). These four cities represent more
were alarmed by air pollution and 73 percent said they were not aware that the
government was doing something to control it. This public perception is in sharp
in recent years and reflects a general failure to convert analyses and discussions
disincentive for investment, emissions fees offer less costly ways of achieving air
quality improvements. Moreover, the Philippine people are already laboring under
its labor force, the Philippines may gain a competitive edge. Even though many
countries in Asia are adopting more stringent environmental policies, Manila may
stand to gain more, if only because it has some of the worst air pollution in
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Asia(Krupnick et al., 2003). The Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1999 aims to provide a
comprehensive air pollution control policy for the country. However, implementation
local government capacities for air quality management will be further exposed, as
these entities are under-prepared to carry out the functions devolved to them by
CAA. Preliminary estimates for implementing parts of CAA indicate that the country
will need to spend at least PhP25 billion (US$500 million) between 2000 and 2010
but the benefits are likely to far exceed these costs(Summary, 2001). The
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 establishes National Ambient Air Quality
Guidelines for Criteria Pollutants. It is clear that the Metro Manila area is in
implementing rules and regulations of the act require that in nonattainment areas, a
really vital as the air pollution grows rapidly. Air quality monitoring is a system for
and storage of environmental data for the sake of air quality and environment
safeguard and health protection. In the past, the air quality monitoring is
traditionally performed using fixed monitoring stations. These stations are highly
sensitive and well calibrated but were very big, non-portable and expensive. The
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efficiency of the professional equipment and their poor deployment coverage raised
monitoring system. The lack of well-equipped facilities needed for air quality
DENR). Often these reports do not cover all regions for air quality monitoring. Thus,
in recent years these drawn researchers to develop new technologies for air quality
monitoring typically low cost and efficiently faster. Such technologies developed are
sensing owing to its access both for non-experts and experts and some of the
researches in the Philippines locally used this technology. Gas sensors are devices
which detects gas molecules. Most gas detectors follow five functional components
which are the transport of air samples, the analysis of these air samples, the
identification of the target gas concentration, the comparison of the read gas
concentrations to the set alarm levels and the actions to these alarm conditions.
Light emitting diodes (LED) and alarm buzzers were the common alarm actions of
most gas detectors. The microcontroller unit facilitates the implementation of these
area. Utilization of storage device (SD) technology was incorporated in the design
Presently, most air pollution sensors developed on five most common air
pollutants viz. nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide and particulate
matter. The developed air-quality measurement sensor can identify and observe
the incidence of air pollution in the adjacent areas. It can be employed for both
The studies served as neo monitoring system for air quality locally and
improvement. (Heyasa and Galarpe 2017) With the help of future technological
improvements, these sensors will become cheaper, more common, and portable
air-quality sensors which can be bring anywhere to observe the local air quality
The devised air quality monitoring device is mainly composed of the various
sensors such as gas sensors, particulate matter (PM) sensor, temperature &
humidity sensor. To measure the pollutants in the air, the researchers specifically
MOS-based sensors are electrical conductivity sensors which have a have high degree of
sensitivity and efficiency. It is the most prominent sensor used by researchers and
organizations.
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MOS sensors can detect concentration of various types of gases by measuring the
resistance change of the metal oxide due to adsorption of gases. The gas actually reacts
with the sensor surface in a completely reversible reaction. Because of their chemical
composition, MOS gas sensors are highly recommended for detection of all sorts of
reactive gases.
MOS gas sensors offer low power consumption, water-based manufacturing for cost
The MOS gas sensor is mainly composed of sensing elements which is made up of
semiconductor particles (typically tin dioxide) responsible for sensor’s gas detection.
In clean air, oxidation occurs. Donor electrons in tin dioxide are attracted toward oxygen
which is adsorbed on the surface of the sensing material, preventing electric current flow.
In the presence of other gases, reduction in the sensing elements occur and the surface
density of the adsorbed oxygen decreases as it reacts with the pollutant’s gases. Electrons
are then released into the tin dioxide, allowing current to flow freely through the sensor.
The sensing principle of the Sensirion Gas Platform (SGP) multi-pixel gas sensor is based
on a heated film of metal-oxide (MOx) nanoparticles. Same with the MQ series gas
sensors, adsorbed oxygen on the metal-oxide particles reacts with the target gas and
thereby releases electrons. The change in the electrical resistance of the metal-oxide layer
The SGP multi-pixel gas sensor platform integrates four sensing elements (pixels) into one
small DFN (dual-flat-no leads) package. DFN physically and electrically connect integrated
SGP multi-pixel gas sensor enables measurement of Total Volatile VOC levels plus the
sensing method or it operates on the principle of light scattering. An infrared light emitting
diode (IR LED) and a photo-sensor are optically arranged in the device. The photo-sensor
rectangular package of the sensor which has a dust through hole on either side.
The more dust there is in the air within the sensor chamber, the greater the
intensity of the scattered light. The dust sensor outputs a voltage value which varies
according to the intensity of the scattered light which in turn corresponds to the
level of dust in the air. The actual dust density (or dust or mass concentration) can
then be calculated from the output voltage value using a linear relation.
To measure the amount of particulate matter (PM) present in the air, the
sensor by optical sensing system. An infrared emitting diode (IRED) and a phototransistor
are diagonally arranged into this device. It detects the reflected light of dust in air.
Especially, it is effective to detect very fine particle like the cigarette smoke. In addition, it
can distinguish smoke from house dust by pulse pattern of output voltage.
Detection
Model Name Sensor Type Target
Range
companies. Find out what they mean and why you should monitor their levels. PM2.5 refers
to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) that have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers,
which is about 3% the diameter of a human hair. Commonly written as PM2.5, particles in
this category are so small that they can only be detected with an electron microscope. They
are even smaller than their counterparts PM10, which are particles that are 10 micrometers
or less, and are also called fine particles. (Ho, Bliss Air 2010)
Fine particles can come from various sources. They include power plants, motor vehicles,
airplanes, residential wood burning, forest fires, agricultural burning, volcanic eruptions and
dust storms. Some are emitted directly into the air, while others are formed when gases
and particles interact with one another in the atmosphere. For instance, gaseous sulfur
dioxide emitted from power plants reacts with oxygen and water droplets in the air to form
The table below will give you a sense of what levels of PM2.5 are harmful and the
appropriate precautions you need to take. It is based on the air quality standards for
The display PM2.5 data on EPA AirWatch using air quality categories. We show the
average levels of PM2.5 over:
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simultaneously in the air. The TVOC concept is used as a practical time and cost-
(e.g. Australia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan). Recommended TVOC levels
of IAQ that are considered acceptable range from 0.6 to 1 mg/m3. The German
Health Department defines TVOC levels as shown in Table 2.7. The TVOC levels
Table 2.7 TVOC guidelines issued by the German Federal Environmental Agency
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MOLECULAR PHYSICAL
GAS DESCRIPTION HAZARD
FORMULA STATE
Carbon Colorless, odorless, Simple
CO 2 Compressed gas
Dioxide tasteless asphyxiant
[Threshold Limit Values ppm: 5000; Permissible Exposure Limit ppm: 5000;
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health ppm: 40000]
Chapter 3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter contains the procedures and the methods of research used by
the researchers for the completion of the study as well as the scientific accounts of
the research study. This section also includes the research design, flowchart of the
requirements.
Research Design
Monitoring System that incorporates various existing Air Quality Sensors. This
study also aims to produce the system at a cheaper cost compared to Industrial-
used Air Quality monitoring systems without sacrificing a great deal with accuracy
based from existing online real-time monitoring system as the researchers further
The apparatus will utilize the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller board as
the central data processing component for all sensors and display. The design is
composed of five major parts; Arduino Mega2560, Sensors (SGP30 and Sharp
Dust Sensor), 3D Printed Probe, TFT LCD and the Metal Housing.
Air Probe
Flange
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The following are the brief description of the major components used in the
was chosen to compensate for the number of sensors as it has more I/O
constant diameter to let air flow freely in and out of the probe.
3. Metal Housing – a 12” by 12” metal casing was used to house the
4. TFT LCD – a 3.5” TFT LCD that has a screen resolution of 320 by 480 pixels
5. Sensors – the sensors used are all based on the researchers’ decision on
b. Sharp Dust Sensor – this dust sensor is the device to detect house
running of application like air purifier and air conditioner with air
purifier function.
MATERIALS QUANTITY
Arduino Mega 2560 Microcontroller 1
3.5” TFT LCD 320 x 480 1
Adafruit Air Quality SGP30 Sensor 1
Sharp Dust Sensor 1
2 Sets (Female to Male)
Jumper Wires
2 Sets (Male to Male)
Electrical Wires 2 meters
5V Fan 2
Micro SD Card Reader 1
Table 3.5 Sensor Specification
Total Volatile
Organic
0-60000 ppb
MOS Gas Compound
SGP30 (TVOCs)
Sensor
Equivalent Carbon
400-60000 ppm
Dioxide (eCO2)
quality may be polluted and can pose a threat to the number of congested people
exposed long term in the area. Such areas include; Local parks in Tagaytay and
However, one of the sensors (SGP30) requires calibration after some time.
The sensor data sheets indicate a drift in readings. The manufacturer has a way to
solve this problem by incorporating a “Baseline Set and Get” function for the
SGP30. The data sheet states; “If no stored baseline is available after initializing
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the baseline algorithm, the sensor has to run for 12 hours until the baseline can be
stored. This will ensure an optimal behavior for preceding startups. Reading out the
baseline prior should be avoided unless a valid baseline is restored first. Once the
stored approximately once per hour. While the sensor is off, baseline values are
valid for a maximum of seven days.” The calibration of this sensor is crucial for the
data to read normally, especially if applications is for long-term run like with the
researchers’ purpose.
Programming of Codes
The entire system runs on the combination of codes for each specific sensor
and the LCD. It incorporates the basic Arduino Programming functions with the
additional specific functions for each sensor. The code begins with the initialization
of the sensors and display and then constantly runs throughout the test, data from
the sensors are projected to the TFT LCD and is refresh every two (2) seconds and
One parameter that is displayed that does not directly come from a specific
sensor is the Air Quality Index or AQI. Rather, it is computed based on the Dust
Density which is the direct output of the Sharp Dust Sensor. AQI has certain levels
and the design indicates this by the LED lights depending on the AQI level.
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Program Flowchart
START
Sensor
Output AQI is computed based
A
on Dust Density
Bad
Moderate
Chapter 4
This Chapter presents the data gathered in the experiment. The data were
analyzed in relation to the main questions and problems that would make the
device more efficient and reliable than other air quality monitoring system.
The researchers test the capability of the AQMS prototype for measuring the
quality of air around in Tagaytay City in Tagaytay due to recent Taal Volcano’s
eruption. The researchers gathered the data in three (3) different locations in
Tagaytay based on the crowded places in the City which are Our Lady of Lourdes
Church (Site 1), Picnic Groove (Site 2) and Sky Ranch (Site 3). The experiment
gathered for analysis. It is compared to the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the testing
locations available in the website. Note that during the experiment, the AQI of the
location was taken from the real time air quality monitoring system online 1.
Table 4.1 Average Dust Concentration per hour (µg/m 3 /hr ¿
1
wunderground.com
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Particle Concentration
Dust Density (µg/m3) 0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84 87 90 93 96 99
Time (Min)
Site 1 Site 2 Site 3
Figure 4.2 Recorded Data for Particle Concentration per Minute
The graph 4.2 shows the increase of Dust Particle (PM 2.5) at the Site Location 2
wherein there are more people and the device were exposed in terrain area which
consists of more particles such as, soil, and smoke (since there was an ongoing
construction in the area). It decreases in the Site Location 3 since the location was
exposed in a well-ventilated area thus, it doesn’t detect more dust particle than the
previous location. The readings are the same as the result in the online AQI.
Figure 4.3 Recorded Data for Total Volatile Organic Compound per Minute
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TVOCs Concentration
Parts per Billion (ppb) 2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52 55 58 63 66 69 72 75 78 81 84 87 90 93 96 99
Time (min)
In Figure 4.3 shows the decreasing value of TVOCs in the Site Location 2. TVOCs
are dominant in a controlled area such as the Location 1 and Location 3, thus the
fluctuation explains that the more the device is expose in a controlled area the more
the value of TVOCs increases. The Site Location 2 was in an open area which
Figure 4.4.1 Recorded Data for Carbon Dioxide Concentration per Minute
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Time (min)
Figure 4.4, shows that the Carbon Dioxide Concentration decreases in Site
Location 2. The experiment held in an open area but there are barely factors that
can affect the carbon dioxide such as people, vehicles and other emissions (gases,
smoke, etc.) thus there is a declination on the middle of the graph. The value
increases at the Site Location 3 since the device was exposed in a crowded place
where there are more vehicles and people lurking in the area. Furthermore, there
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are more emissions from the restaurants, and residents along the location thus the
GOOD
Site 1 0.0737 140.84 438.22
In Figure 4.5, the researchers took the average value from the raw data to get the
experimental result value of AQI and compare it to the actual value of Air Quality
Index from the online real time air quality monitoring system. Then after the
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average value was gathered, the data was assessed to determine the AQI of the
data through comparing the allowed concentration in a standard hazard level given
by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). After comparing, the date
gathered shows the status of the Air Quality in the area and compared it to the
given actual result gathered by the researchers before and after of the experiment.
The result from the experimental AQI value is the same in the actual AQI value
Chapter 5
Conclusion
Monitoring the quality of air helps us be aware and conscious of our surroundings.
The research provides us data of the air quality monitoring system we produced. By
using different sensors in the system, we could tell people the amount of pollutants
and harmful gases in the air in specific areas. The sensors installed in the air
quality monitoring system can detect, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compound
and dust particle concentration. Based on the data gathered around Tagaytay, the
air quality is still good which means there are not much pollution present in the air.
reading of data. Also, the system has to be calibrated every start of the experiment.
Further experiments and analyzation are needed to gather more data to improve its
accuracy.
programmed another 2 low-cost sensors which is the MQ-7 Gas Sensor (CO
Sensor) and DHT 22 Temperature and Humidity Sensor for more enhancement of
the prototype. However, in the midst of installation, we haven’t collected any data
pursue more attention from the benefactors and may help the project to implement
in the community.
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Temperature
Temperature -40°C – 80°C
DHT22 Sensor
Recommendation
1. Monitoring system can improve its features and portability through adding
3. Compare the prototype with the actual air quality monitoring system to
status