Arduino-Powered Air Quality Monitoring System

Kickoff Meeting:

• The team held an initial meeting to discuss the project's  title, scope, objectives, and deliverables. We then met with our advisor and agreed on designing an Arduino-based air quality monitoring system capable of detecting smoke, carbon monoxide (CO), and other harmful pollutants.

• Work allocation was done based on the expertise of each team member. Key tasks like hardware selection, software development, system design, and testing were distributed among the departments:

  • Electrical, Electromechanical and Mechanical departments focused on power management, sensor integration, and calibration.

  • Software Engineering was tasked with developing the system’s software and user interface.

  • Architecture, Enviromental and Civil departments handled aspects such as enclosure design, pollutant analysis, and environmental impact.

• We conducted research on suitable hardware components, including selecting sensors like MQ-135 (for air pollutants), DHT11 (for temperature and humidity), and Arduino Uno for controlling the system.

• Initial rough sketches of the system were prepared to visualize the design and how components will be integrated.

Hardware Selection:

• After thorough research, the necessary components were selected and documented. This included:

  • Sensors: MQ-135 for CO and CO₂ detection, and DHT11 for temperature and humidity.

  • GSM Module: Chosen for enabling remote monitoring and alert notifications.

  • Actuators: Fans, alarms (buzzers), and LEDs to indicate hazardous conditions.

  • Power Supply: A reliable power management system was outlined to ensure stability and energy efficiency.

Preparing Project proposal

•  The proposal aimed to define the scope, objectives, and technical approach for building a system that detects smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) in real-time and triggers automatic responses such as activating a fan, a red light, and a buzzer for safety measures. 

• After drafting the proposal, we met with our project advisor to discuss the initial plan and seek feedback. During the meeting, we presented our project idea, the technical components involved, and the expected outcomes. Our advisor provided valuable feedback, which helped refine the project direction. 

Our team has made significant advancements in the procurement phase for the Arduino-Powered Air Quality Monitoring System project. We have developed a comprehensive procurement plan detailing the required components, vendors, and costs.

Key Achievements:

• • Procurement Needs Identified: All essential components, including Arduino Uno, sensors, and structural materials, have been listed along with their procurement methods and estimated costs.

  • Budget Allocation: An overall budget has been established, with an additional 5% contingency to mitigate potential overruns.

  • Vendor Engagement: Vendors were selected based on criteria such as reliability, cost, and technical support. The primary supplier, Vector4Engineering, was contracted for major components.

• Weekly updates are shared with our advisor.

• Milestones for procurement activities are tracked and reviewed regularly.

For the design and fabrication process of our Arduino-powered IoT air condition monitoring system, we initially created a simulation using Proteus. This allowed us to visualize the circuit components, test their interactions, and ensure that the system functions correctly before moving to the physical prototype. The simulation provided a reliable foundation for the hardware design, ensuring that all components like sensors, the GSM module, and the microcontroller were correctly integrated and optimized for real-world performance.

In the design and simulation phase of our Arduino-powered IoT air condition monitoring system, we focused on selecting appropriate sensors, including those for temperature, humidity, and air quality, and integrating them with the Arduino and GSM module for communication. The circuit was carefully designed for proper wiring and power distribution, while the physical layout ensured optimal sensor placement and durability. The simulation in Proteus allowed us to test the system's functionality, ensuring that the sensors, microcontroller, and communication components interacted correctly. Additionally, the control code was developed to monitor sensor data and trigger actions, such as sending alerts via the GSM module and logging data for IoT integration.