Air Quality Monitoring with ESP32 and Arduino: Affordable and Effective Air Quality Monitoring

10.12.2024 - Engine: Gemini

Air Quality Monitoring with ESP32 and Arduino

Introduction

Air quality monitoring is becoming increasingly important as air pollution emerges as a serious global public health concern. Sensors like ESP32 and Arduino make it possible to monitor air quality parameters cost-effectively and reliably.

Sensors for Air Quality Monitoring

• PM2.5 Sensor: Measures the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less.
• PM10 Sensor: Measures the concentration of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less.
• CO2 Sensor: Measures the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air.
• VOC Sensor: Measures the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from building materials, cleaning products, and other sources.

Data Acquisition and Analysis

1. Sensor Interfacing:

• Connect the sensors to the ESP32 or Arduino board using analog or digital pins.
• Configure the sensors according to manufacturer specifications.

2. Data Acquisition:

• Read sensor data periodically and store it in an array or database.
• Set the data acquisition frequency, e.g., every 10 seconds or a minute.

3. Data Processing:

• Convert raw data from the sensors into meaningful units, such as micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) or ppm.
• Apply filters to remove noise and outliers.
• Calculate averages, min-max values, and other relevant statistics.

4. Data Analysis:

• Compare the collected data against air quality standards, e.g., World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
• Create graphs or dashboards to visualize air quality data.
• Analyze trends and patterns to identify causes of poor air quality.

5. Alerts and Actions:

• Set up alerts to notify users of poor air quality conditions.
• Interface the monitoring system with an air purifier or other mechanisms to improve air quality.

Sample Code

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Adafruit_PM25AQI.h> // PM2.5 library
#include <Adafruit_SCD30.h> // CO2 library

// Initialize sensors
Adafruit_PM25AQI pm25 = Adafruit_PM25AQI();
Adafruit_SCD30 scd30 = Adafruit_SCD30();

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pm25.begin();
  scd30.begin();
}

void loop() {
  float pm25Value = pm25.readPM25();
  float pm10Value = pm25.readPM10();
  float co2Value = scd30.readCO2();

  Serial.print("PM2.5: ");
  Serial.println(pm25Value);
  Serial.print("PM10: ");
  Serial.println(pm10Value);
  Serial.print("CO2: ");
  Serial.println(co2Value);

  delay(10000); // 10 seconds between readings
}

Conclusion

Air quality monitoring with ESP32 and Arduino provides an affordable and effective way to monitor air quality in indoor and outdoor environments. By using appropriate sensors and implementing appropriate algorithms for data acquisition and analysis, you can gain valuable insights into air quality conditions and take actions to improve health and well-being.