IoT, Business Intelligence and Blockchain technology reduces methane emissions in a cattle farm
A Smart Farming project with Libelium's IoT technology helps to reduce pollution and optimize the management of livestock production in Romania.
IoT Solutions
Smart Environment
Pollution is one of the biggest problems that affects people’s quality of life at cities.
The challenge
How is human health affected by pollution?
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD)
- Pulmonary cancer
- Coronary heart diseases
- Stroke
- Lower respiratory tract infection
Most sources of outdoor air pollution demands concerted action by local, national and regional level policy-makers working in sectors like transport, energy, waste management, urban planning, and agriculture.
By 2050, outdoor air pollution (particulate matter and ground-level ozone) is projected to become the top cause of environmentally related deaths worldwide.
IoT Solution for Smart Environment
IoT technology allows users to measure the quality of the air by controlling several parameters.
Air pollution means the amount of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Carbon Monoxide (CO) in the air exceeds the criteria set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Air Quality Index measures the quality of air. It shows the amount and types of gases dissolved in the air. The air quality index is composed of 8 pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb).
There are 6 categories of air in the air quality index. The categories define the quality of the air. They are as follows; good, satisfactory, moderate, poor, very poor, and severe.
The WHO Air quality guidelines offer global guidance on thresholds and limits for key air pollutants that pose health risks. As an example, the Guidelines indicate that by reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m), we can cut air pollution-related deaths by around 15%.
Pollutants and Health Breakpoints
Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency.
| AQI Category | PM10 (μg/m3 in 24hr avg) | PM2.5 (μg/m3 in 24hr avg) | NO2 (ppb in 1h avg) | O3 (ppb in 8h avg) | CO (ppb in 8h avg) | SO2 (ppb in 1h avg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good (0-50) | 0-54 | 0-12 | 0-53 | 0-54 | 0-4.4 | 0-35 |
| Moderate (51-100) | 55-154 | 12.1-35.4 | 54-100 | 55-70 | 4.5-9.4 | 36-75 |
| Unhealthy for sensitive (101-150) | 155-254 | 35.5-55.4 | 101-360 | 71-85 | 9.5-12.4 | 76-185 |
| Unhealthy (151-200) | 255-354 | 55.5-150.4 | 361-649 | 86-105 | 12.5-15.4 | 186-304 |
| Very unhealthy ( 201-300) | 355-424 | 150.5-250.4 | 650-1249 | 106-200 | 15.5-30.4 | 305-604 |
| Hazardous (301+) | 425+ | 250.5+ | 1250+ | 405+ | 30.5+ | 605+ |
Applications of IoT technology in the Environment
Where pollution is measured: Cities, farms and factories.
Parameters to measure pollution:
CO
OZONE. O3
SO2
NO
NO2
PARTICLES
Benefits of IoT technology in the Environment
- Air quality measurement is mandatory in cities and industries to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations.
- Information about air quality provides citizens with better resources to avoid respiratory pathologies and apply risk prevention measures.
- Environmental monitoring is useful to explain to citizens the reasons for applying traffic restrictions in case of high pollution.
- Cities that monitor their pollution levels can implement better measures to make their air quality healthier for their neighbours and also for tourists, obtaining environmentally friendly destination certifications.
Smart Environment Products
Smart Environment is a product designed to detect different parameters and gas pollutants that impact in the air quality.
Features
Products are constantly updated, improved and developed to offer the greatest efficiency.
Allied with specialized companies, integrating the best sensors in the market.
Interoperability: any wireless technology including LPWAN communications: important for Smart Cities projects.
Any cloud platform: compatibility with city council platforms.
High accuracy sensors (continuously improving). Calibrated gases sensors are useful to measure the exact value in PPM’s of a gas concentration, it is designed to be used in applications that require accurate readings and exact concentrations.
Particle Matter Sensor – commonly known as “Dust Sensor” – is integrated in the platform. This sensor allows to measure PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 particles. This sensor comes also calibrated from the factory.
Solar powered.
Long battery life.
Predictive and preventive models can be built.
Physical characteristics:
- Minimal maintenance costs.
- Weatherproof enclosure.
- Easy to deploy.
Models and sensors
Air Quality Station
The new Air Quality Station allows the monitorization of the AQI to control pollution at cities and industries.
Main features:
- Measurement of the main air quality parameters: PM, CO, NO2, NO, O3, SO2
- Maximum accuracy thanks to cutting-edge hardware and machine learning algorithm
- Removable sensor cartridge for quick sensor exchange
- Communication via 4G and LoRaWAN
- Real-time data visualization via the Cloud
- Multiple cloud compatibility: send data to any of the Libelium Bridge compatible clouds
- Robust, handy, and user-friendly
- Compatible with high-quality laboratory meteorology sensors
- Useful options: premium weather station, sound level meter and particle matter
Smart Environment PRO
Smart Environment PRO | Plug&Sense! enables the Air Quality Index (AQI) calculation, thanks to electro-chemical gas sensors providing extremely accurate ppm values and a high-end Particle Matter sensor.
Sensors available:
- Temperature, humidity and pressure
- Carbon Monoxide (CO) for low concentrations
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Oxygen (O2)
- Ozone (O3)
- Nitric Oxide (NO)
- Nitric Dioxide high accuracy (NO2)
- Sulfur Dioxide high accuracy (SO2)
- Ammonia (NH3)
- Methane (CH4) and Combustible Gas
- Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
- Particle Matter (PM1 / PM2.5 / PM10) – Dust 1
Wireless communication protocols available to connect devices
- 802.15.4
- ZigBee
- WiFi
- 868
- 900
- 4G
- LoRaWAN
- Sigfox
Smart Environment Success Stories
Hungary’s first Field Monitoring Laboratory relies on Libelium’s IoT technology
Hungary's first smart agriculture lab is a first step in-field monitoring, digitization, and LoRaWAN network expansion.
Libelium participates in an ambitious air quality IoT project for the port of Genoa, Italy
Port cities suffer from one more source of air pollution than any other inland city. Now a complex and ambitious Internet of Things (IoT) project for air quality in the city of Genoa has sprung up. It entails the installation of two control devices in Porto Antico, a residential, tourist, cultural, and service area in Italy.
Contact us
If you want more info about Environment applications
