Real-Time Environmental Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors in Smart Cities with IoT

Abstract

In recent years, people are getting aware of environmental pollution which results in a growing demand for robust systems that is capable of monitoring environmental conditions in real time. An efficient air quality monitoring system is not only essential for public awareness but also has significant industrial applications. For instance, in mining and heavy industries, there is a risk of air pollution from various hazardous gases, and having an effective monitoring system could be life-saving for employees. Within the context of expensive sensor networks, challenges such as data acquisition, management, connectivity, and energy consumption is getting too high. Internet of Things (IoT) technology addresses these challenges. This study introduces an IoT-based framework designed to track environmental conditions with the help of several sensors. This system enables users to measure temperature, humidity, and the presence of dangerous gases in both indoor and outdoor settings. Data collected is stored on a web server, accessible globally via the internet. Moreover, a specially designed web application provides critical information and allows users to receive notifications for significant environmental fluctuations detected by the sensors. Compared to similar systems, our proposed solution stands out due to its affordability, precision, user-friendly interface, cloud-based architecture, and its comprehensive monitoring and data visualization capabilities. The system underwent rigorous evaluation in various scenarios, demonstrating a high level of accuracy and dependability in its performance.