Wireless Monitoring of Indoor Air Quality by a Sensor Network

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important public health issue. Driven by rising energy costs, buildings are increasingly built or renovated to be air tight to reduce unwanted heat loss. In consequence the air quality levels in such buildings are degraded. This study presents a wireless sensor network for monitoring IAQ in buildings. Comprised of various IAQ sensors, this network is capable of measuring IAQ levels at various locations within a building simultaneously. The network is integrated with the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems in the building to ensure acceptable air quality in interior spaces. Using the sensor network, various indoor air pollutants (CO, CO2, VOCs, and airborne particles) can be measured in spaces that house potential sources of pollutant production. When measured pollutant levels are higher than acceptable, the network will alarm indoor occupants, trigger activation of the building’s climate control equipment, exhaust polluted air, and bring in fresh air from the outside. The ultimate aim of this study is to implement the sensor network throughout various building types. To this end, an affordable, low-cost, wireless IAQ controller that can be easily installed avoiding the need for costly wiring was developed.