The problem

Communities are increasingly interested in learning more about what pollutants are in the air. Knowing about the air quality in your community can help you decide what actions to take to protect your health. That is where new air sensors come into play. They are low-cost, highly portable, and offer new ways to measure air quality in and around a community. Automated monitoring provides more options over using handheld units occasionally. Mapping data trends becomes possible thanks to continuous surveillance and a permanent data flux. We have a higher detection capability for small variations and can trigger automated alarms if predefined thresholds are reached, improving reaction time while lowering costs. The uRADMonitor network is a global array of interconnected monitoring stations, focused on continuous Environmental Surveillance. Its purpose is to generate fully transparent open data, used to assert the quality of our environment.

The solution

This is the 8th hardware version of the successful "model A3" environmental sensor being produced since 2016 and presented on Hackaday.io. uRADMonitor A3 ver8 is an automated, fixed monitoring station with an array of sensors that tracks a total of 11 important environmental parameters. It comes in a rugged aluminum enclosure with wall mounting support. The data is exported to the uRADMonitor network and can be accessed in real time using the cloud API interface or directly via the local network.

Sensors

uRADMonitor model A3 is a multi sensor environmental monitor. It uses the Bosch BME280 sensor to measure air temperature, barometric pressure and humidity. A MOX VOC sensor measures volatile organic compounds. A high quality laser scattering sensor is used to detect the Particulate Matter PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in air. There are two electrochemical sensors, one for formaldehyde and another one for ozone and a non-dispersive infrared sensor for CO2. A built in fan assures an active air flow stream across the sensing elements. There is also a noise level sensor since the 5th hardware version. Using the 4 available connectivity options and the low power consumption this device can be deployed for a large variety of field applications. Its versatility is combined with a convenient cloud based data access with an API interface to access the measurements directly from the uRADMonitor cloud. The uRADMonitor A3 reports measurements via Ethernet, WIFI, GSM/GPRS or LoRaWAN. Choose the version that fits your scenario best:

Why is this important?

As an automated detector, all you need to do is to connect it to your Internet Router either via a network cable or Wifi (depending on the unit type you've purchased). The device will immediately start measuring the air at your location, and provide the data automatically. You can see all readings on your computer, phone or tablet using one of the many available dashboards:

This dashboard shows Dave's unit, installed at EEVBlog HQ. Dave has been a supporter of this project since 2014.

The network

The entire work goes way above a single air quality detector hardware, I've built a Global Environmental Monitoring network using hundreds of such devices interconnected and spread across the Globe. This network is called uRADMonitor and you can see a 3D rendering with hundreds of these devices and their real locations:

uRADMonitor means two things: IOT devices equipped with sensors for Air Quality monitoring of cities, offices and homes, and a global network of such devices spread in more than 40 countries that generate uniform and comparable Environmental data so we can understand the big picture on pollution.

About one hundred A3 devices have been installed in public transportation to map the air quality in 5 cities, impacting over 3 million people by offering them real-time environmental data:

This helps increase awareness, but gives an insight into the possible harmful factors around us, affecting our health or the environment. By purchasing a device you get yourself a nice automated dosimeter to monitor your location 24/7 but you also support the work and research invested in this community project, helping it move further.

Data access

You can use the uRADMonitor Dashboard to access the data via the uRADMonitor API, see it here. Alternatively, these devices have an internal web server you can connect to directly in your LAN to access all readings in JSON format. Read more here.

About the author - why did I build this?

Personally, I am committed to building something that matters, that has an impact on the lives of many.

uRADMonitor is just one of several projects planned. Air Quality has a direct impact on the health and the environment, and the first step in solving the pollution problem is to understand it. Here is where uRADMonitor steps in and with your help we are getting there.