IoT based Air quality monitoring in public buses. Case study: Kigali-Rwanda

Abstract

Ambient indoor air quality is crucial to human well-being, especially in densely populated areas. In developing countries such as Rwanda, which heavily rely on public transportation, mainly buses for affordability and accessibility, the increasing demand for buses often leads to overcrowding, resulting in poor air quality within these vehicles. This can cause respiratory problems among passengers. This research focuses on creating an Internet of Things (IoT)-based air quality monitoring system for public buses, the system uses environmental sensors and cost-effective micro-controllers to collect real-time data, which are then sent to an open source IoT cloud platform for analysis and secure storage. Various sensors measure key air quality parameters such as PM2.5, CO2, CO, temperature, and humidity. Data transmission to a web server is facilitated by GSM technology, allowing for seamless data storage and in-depth analysis to support decision making. The study proposes a prototype that presents a custom dashboard for the real-time display of air quality data.