Design and implementation of a scalable IoT-based real-time environmental monitoring and alarm system: an experimental study

Abstract

Digital transformation is crucial for organizations to survive, be competitive, and grow in the modern age. IoT is the key to enabling this transformation by connecting devices and optimizing processes. This paper presents the design and implementation of a generic IoT-based real-time environmental monitoring and alarm system. The platform is validated by applying it to a manufacturing plant scenario, where various sensors simulate industrial conditions. Scalable message distribution systems such as MQTT and Apache Kafka facilitate reliable data transmission. A microservice architecture is constructed for the backend services to ensure uninterrupted and high throughput services in the application domain. Instead of deploying a real WSN, traffic generation services were chosen to minimize costs, provide greater control and flexibility, and facilitate faster, scalable testing in a controlled environment. The platform also features an integrated alarm system with an event definition module, which allows users to define custom action rules. This flexible, scalable, and resilient architecture can be used across a wide range of application domains that require digital transformation. The experimental study demonstrates the platform's capabilities and great potential for broader IoT applications.