SafeAir: Air Quality and Fire Safety Monitoring Network

SafeAir is an advanced environmental monitoring system designed to provide real-time air quality updates and fire safety alerts. Leveraging a robust DECT NR mesh network for local communication and LTE for remote alerts, the system ensures comprehensive monitoring for industrial and residential areas. SafeAir is powered sustainably using solar panels and incorporates geospatial tracking with GNSS, enabling efficient, scalable, and eco-friendly operations. The system's modular design allows for easy integration with future smart city infrastructures and AI-driven analytics.

Why We Need SafeAir?

Growing Environmental Concerns

Air quality is a critical component of public health and environmental protection. With urbanization and industrialization at an all-time high, the quality of the air we breathe is rapidly deteriorating. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 91% of the world's population lives in areas where air pollution levels exceed acceptable limits. Prolonged exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contributes to severe health conditions, including respiratory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and even premature death.

Fire Incidents and Their Consequences

Fire hazards, on the other hand, remain a persistent threat to life and property. Residential fires, industrial accidents, and wildfires cause immense damage annually. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fires account for thousands of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage globally each year. Many fire incidents occur due to delayed detection or lack of robust early warning systems, emphasizing the need for reliable monitoring solutions.

Need for Advanced Monitoring Solutions

Efficient monitoring systems are indispensable for addressing these challenges. Real-time air quality data enables proactive decision-making, while early detection of fire hazards can save lives and minimize damage. Traditional systems often lack scalability, accuracy, and integration, underlining the necessity for innovative, scalable, and technology-driven solutions tailored to diverse environments.

In conclusion, with urbanization, industrial expansion, and climate change exacerbating risks, the importance of robust air quality and fire safety monitoring cannot be overstated. Comprehensive systems that provide accurate, real-time data are crucial for safeguarding public health, protecting property, and ensuring a sustainable future.

Idea

With the increasing risks posed by deteriorating air quality and the rising occurrence of fire-related hazards in industrial, residential, and commercial areas, there is an urgent need for a reliable and efficient monitoring system that can provide early warnings and actionable insights. Current systems often rely on isolated, localized solutions that lack scalability, holistic data aggregation, and real-time responsiveness across wide areas.

The idea behind this project is to create a distributed network of interconnected sensing nodes capable of monitoring air quality parameters (e.g., pollutants, VOCs, gases) and detecting potential fire risks (e.g., smoke, flames) across large industrial and urban landscapes. These nodes will communicate through a DECT NR+ mesh network, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient data transmission. The use of renewable power sources like solar energy ensures a self-sustaining system that minimizes operational costs and environmental impact.

The network will collect and analyze sensor data to provide early warnings for fire hazards and poor air quality while geotagging data for precise incident localization. This enables authorities, industries, and residents to respond proactively, thereby reducing loss of life, property damage, and health risks. The system also aims to support long-term data collection for environmental research and policy-making, ensuring it has both immediate utility and long-term value.

The SafeAir project seeks to blend cutting-edge technology, sustainable design, and scalable implementation to address critical environmental and safety concerns, with applications ranging from smart cities to industrial zones, residential complexes, and beyond.

Hardware Specification & Design Narrative

The power system of the project is designed to ensure self-sustainability and reliability, featuring an nPM1300 PMIC for efficient power management, a 5V 6W solar panel as the primary energy source, and a 10, 500mAh battery to provide uninterrupted backup during low solar output. The system also includes a USB Type-C charging option, offering flexibility for initial deployment or during prolonged cloudy conditions. The solar panel generates sufficient power to operate the system while simultaneously charging the battery, ensuring continuous operation. Additionally, the nPM1300 monitors battery level, charging status, and solar panel health, and this data is transmitted to the base station for real-time monitoring, enabling proactive maintenance and optimizing performance. This design not only reduces dependency on external power sources but also makes the system eco-friendly, cost-effective, and reliable for long-term deployments in remote areas.

The SafeAir project integrates a range of gas and environmental sensors to monitor fire hazards, toxic gases, and air quality, ensuring real-time detection and response for enhanced safety and environmental health.

• DFRobot Gravity: Analog Gas Sensor (MQ2) - Detects flammable gases like LPG, methane, and hydrogen to identify potential fire hazards or gas leaks, aiding in early warning systems.
• 5-Channel Flame Sensor Module - Monitors flame presence or intensity with multiple channels for enhanced accuracy, crucial for fire hazard detection in industrial or residential areas.
• DFRobot Gravity: PM2.5 Air Quality Sensor - Measures particulate matter in the air, helping monitor fine pollutants that impact air quality and health.
• DFRobot Gravity: Analog CO Sensor (MQ7) - Detects carbon monoxide levels, enabling the system to identify toxic gas concentrations in industrial or residential spaces.
• DFRobot Fermion: MEMS Nitrogen Dioxide NO₂ Sensor - Tracks NO₂ concentrations to assess air pollution levels and identify harmful emissions.
• DFRobot Gravity: Electrochemical SO₂ Sensor - Monitors sulfur dioxide levels, commonly associated with industrial emissions, to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
• DFRobot Fermion: MEMS VOC Sensor - Detects volatile organic compounds, providing insights into harmful chemical presence and overall indoor air quality.
• DFRobot Gravity: Electrochemical Ozone O₃ Sensor - Measures ozone levels to identify air quality concerns and alert for areas exceeding safe thresholds.
• DFRobot Gravity: I2C SCD41 CO₂ Sensor - Tracks carbon dioxide levels, contributing to the monitoring of ventilation effectiveness and air quality.In an area equipped with the SafeAir system, if a fire hazard occurs, such as a sudden spark in an industrial setup leading to a flame, the 5-Channel Flame Sensor would immediately detect the presence of the flame, while the MQ2 sensor would pick up elevated levels of flammable gases like methane or LPG in the vicinity. Simultaneously, the system’s CO sensor (MQ7) might detect a spike in carbon monoxide caused by incomplete combustion, and the temperature sensor integrated into the environment module could register a rapid increase. As these sensors trigger alerts, the data is processed and sent to the base station over LTE, including location details from the GNSS module. This real-time alert enables emergency responders to act swiftly, potentially averting a disaster, while localized alarms in the mesh network could notify nearby personnel to evacuate or take immediate precautions.For air quality monitoring, consider a residential area where the SafeAir system is deployed. The integrated sensors, such as the PM2.5, CO₂, NO₂, VOC, SO₂, and O₃ modules, continuously measure pollutant levels and provide raw data through their respective analog, I2C, or UART interfaces. This data is processed in real-time by the nRF9151 microcontroller to calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI) as per recognized standards, considering pollutant concentrations and environmental factors. If the calculated AQI exceeds safe thresholds, the system transmits detailed reports, including pollutant levels, AQI values, and location coordinates (via the GNSS module), to the base station through LTE connectivity. Alternatively, in local deployments, DECT NR+ mesh capability is utilized to notify nearby devices or nodes of poor air quality. This allows timely notifications to residents or authorities, warning them to take necessary precautions like limiting outdoor exposure. The hardware design ensures reliable data transmission even in remote areas, making the system robust and effective for environmental health monitoring.The PCB's hardware design includes a unique feature: an RGB LED system integrated with a transparent bottom enclosure and dynamic color borders. The RGB LEDs illuminate the enclosure's edges, reflecting the air quality index (AQI) levels in the surrounding area. The striking phrase 'You are breathing air this color' is printed on the PCB using PCBWay's advanced color printing facility, providing an immediate and intuitive visual connection between the border color and the air quality in the environment. This innovative design enhances user interaction and awareness while maintaining the board's functionality and aesthetic appeal.