Executive Summary:
Problem: Air pollution has become one of the main risks to human health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 7 million people per year die from diseases related to air pollution.
The air has the concentration of harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (Ch4), dust particles (PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Air pollution is caused by the presence of toxic substances produced especially by human activity in recent times. These gases and chemical agents in the atmosphere can generate a large number of phenomena and consequences for the ecosystems and living beings that inhabit the planet.
Objective: The objective of this research is to develop an environmental monitoring system based on wireless sensor networks (Wireless Sensor Networks, WSN) that are integrated into the concept of the Internet of Things (Internet of Things, IoT), thus increasing the capacity of network nodes with low-cost smart devices and easy implementation. This monitoring system is defined as a wireless data capture, storage and monitoring system that with different intelligent sensors, embedded in electronic boards (sensors and information systems) allow measuring the concentration of air pollutants.
Methodology: These electronic devices will be controlled by software embedded in hardware that captures and stores large amounts of data (Big Data), and that in turn wirelessly feeds a Web application in real time in the cloud (Cloud Computing) in a secure manner (Cybersecurity), in order to measure air quality, generate alerts for high pollution and reduce its effects, in the same way the information collected will allow atmospheric studies to identify problems and their prevention. From the software engineering point of view, the challenge consists of modeling the software architecture that allows the implementation of: (1) a prototype that formats the analog signals captured by the electronic boards; (2) an API for communication, which will allow information to be consulted, modified and deleted from other devices; (3) a Web services module for managing databases in the cloud; (4) a GUI module that allows managing the sensor network; (5) a module that allows the storage and transmission of data in real time between the electronic boards and the Web application; (6) a Big Data module for handling large amounts of data and information; Once the information is stored, various data mining and machine learning techniques will be applied for analysis and prediction. (6) Finally, a graphical user interface will be implemented that allows the visualization of air or soil quality, allowing a friendly interaction with the computer system.
General Objectives: The objective of this research is to develop an environmental monitoring system based on wireless sensor networks (Wireless Sensor Networks, WSN) that are integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT) concept, thus increasing the capacity of network nodes with low-cost and easy-to-implement smart devices. This monitoring system is defined as a wireless data capture, storage and monitoring system that with different intelligent sensors embedded in electronic boards (sensors and information systems) allow measuring the concentration of air pollutants. These electronic devices will be controlled by software embedded in hardware that captures and stores large amounts of data (Big Data), and that in turn wirelessly feeds a Web application in real time in the cloud (Cloud Computing) in a secure manner (Cybersecurity), in order to measure air quality, generate alerts for high pollution and reduce its effects.
Specific objectives:
- Design, implement and configure specific electronic circuits for sensors of gases of interest in electronic boards and expansion modules oriented to IoT.
- Design and implement communication bridges (Application Programming Interface, API) between intelligent sensor nodes and Web services for data capture, storage and extraction.
- Design and implement Web services for cloud computing database management.
- Design and develop graphical user interfaces (Graphical User Interface, GUI) to manage the sensor network.
- Apply Big Data and data mining techniques to process large flows of data generated by sensors or in real time, which will have to be stored, managed and analyzed, to support optimal operations and decision making in all types of companies.
- Implement cybersecurity mechanisms to protect the privacy of information, both in code and on the network and Internet.
- Carry out functional and non-functional tests, for evaluation in cities, metropolitan areas, caves and plantations.
Participating Institutions:
ESPE, EPN, USFQ.
Participants:
Project manager Walter Marcelo Fuertes Díaz.
- Walter Marcelo Fuertes Diaz
- Theofilos Toulkeridis
- Freddy Mauricio Tapia Leon
- Fausto Honorato Meneses Becerra
- Jenny Gabriela Torres Olmedo
- Diego Benitez
Awarded budget: $51710
Project status: In progress.
