Implementation of a sustainable real-time air quality monitoring system using the Internet of Things for Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

The environment is sustainable if it is free of air, water, and soil pollution. This agrees with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Three (SDG3). However, urbanization and industrialization have aggravated the rise of air pollution which are hazardous to both human health and society. Ingestion of large quantities of air pollution gases is one of the greatest health risks in the environment which often leads to death, brain damage, and loss of consciousness at high doses. Some common sources of carbon monoxide (CO), the most severe of these gases, can be traced to the incomplete combustion of cars’ fuel, malfunctioning equipment, clogged chimneys and vents, and interior use of portable generators. Traditional ways of monitoring pollution are laborious and involve inefficient processes. To address this challenge, this paper implemented a real-time Air Quality Monitoring System using the Internet of Things (IoT) to measure the concentration of CO. The IoT devices were used to collate data within specific areas. The data collected, by the sensor, were processed using software which is then trained in the system to predict air pollution levels based on historical data. The system also includes a user interface that allows users to view real-time air pollution data and receive alerts when pollution levels exceed the safe threshold. The system was tested in different environments, Air Force Institute of Technology and Kawo; densely populated areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. This was done to demonstrate the high level of accuracy and reliability of the system. The correct implementation of the developed system has the potential to be used as a tool for researchers, and for the general public to better understand and address the problem of air pollution.