Web-based real time haze monitoring system

Abstract

In this rapidly modernizing era, haze or air pollution is one of the many serious global problems for the entire population in the world. Air pollutant index (API) reading increases as haze gets worse, affecting school and aircraft schedule on top of causing respiratory problem. However, there have been occasions in Malaysia where API level published by Department of Environment (DoE) does not change despite worsening haze condition. Currently, DoE uses particulate matter PM10 to measure haze. This method is considered inaccurate because there are particle matters which are less than 10 µm3 present in the air, and they can be detected using PM2.5. This paper presents a portable device which monitor the presence of dust of size 2.5 µm3 and above. The proposed portable device consist of a dust sensor and GPS, connected to beagle bone black microcontroller which function to obtain PM2.5 API reading and coordinate and send the data to a database using sierra wireless. Users will be able to access API reading of their location using the internet web browser and therefore manage their outdoor activities. The API reading obtained is more accurate in terms of particle since the proposed system can detect small particle matter and it is real time.