Air Quality Monitoring Innovation Paves the Way towards Sustainable Solutions to Dust Problem

Thailand’s PM2.5 dust particles level ranks as one of the highest in the world and poses health risks to the urban population. Having a reliable tool developed by Thais themselves to warn the public of PM2.5 dust conditions is crucial, and the “Sensor for All” project by Chula Engineering is an answer to this problem. 

During the past three years, a team of multidisciplinary experts of Chula Engineering has been working on installing sensor nodes, starting on the Chula campus, and expanding to cover the whole country.  
Prof. Dr. Pisut Painmanakul, a lecturer of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Deputy Dean for Innovation Strategy for the Faculty of Engineering, and Head of the “Sensor for All” Project, revealed that the PM2.5 problem is mainly caused by human behavior and their lifestyle and daily routine. 

From an environmental scientist’s view, the solution requires four elements: sufficient quantitative and qualitative databases, centralized data analysis and information dissemination by one agency, issuing of participatory policies, and participation of local communities in monitoring the situations.

Prof. Dr. Pisut said that the Sensor for All project, which started almost 10 years ago, stemmed from the air-quality sensor network innovation project — a collaboration among lecturers from Environmental Engineering, Survey Engineering, and Electrical Engineering departments. “We wanted our innovation to be used widely, and sustainably. Therefore, the Sensor for All project was born. In the first couple of years, the project focused on inviting participation from various agencies to create sustainability for Thai society.”

Initially, the Sensor for All project began with the development of PM2.5 sensors and installing them in the area around the Chula campus.  The second year was dedicated to data transfer and display, as well as expanding the coverage to include all areas of Bangkok through collaboration with the National Housing Authority and True Corporation.  Moreover, dissemination of information in the form of a booklet entitled “A Battle to Kill Dust” was published to educate young people. The third year of the project was launched last November with an installment of PM2.5 sensors at 1,000 locations throughout Thailand by Chula Engineering and project partners.