Journal of Sensors
Volume 2018 (2018), Article ID 5353816, 14 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5353816

Research Article

Design and Development of a Low-Cost, Portable Monitoring Device for Indoor Environment Quality

Akira Tiele, Siavash Esfahani, and James Covington

School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK

Correspondence should be addressed to James Covington; j.a.covington@warwick.ac.uk

Received 31 August 2017; Revised 10 November 2017; Accepted 25 December 2017; Published 4 March 2018

Academic Editor: Andreas Schütze

Copyright © 2018 Akira Tiele et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

This article describes the design and development of a low-cost, portable monitoring system for indoor environment quality (IEQ). IEQ is a holistic concept that encompasses elements of indoor air quality (IAQ), indoor lighting quality (ILQ), acoustic comfort, and thermal comfort (temperature and relative humidity). The unit is intended for the monitoring of temperature, humidity, PM2.5, PM10, total VOCs (×3), CO₂, CO, illuminance, and sound levels. Experiments were conducted in various environments, including a typical indoor working environment and outdoor pollution, to evaluate the unit’s potential to monitor IEQ parameters. The developed system was successfully able to monitor parameter variations, based on specific events. A custom IEQ index was devised to rate the parameter readings with a simple scoring system to calculate an overall IEQ percentage. The advantages of the proposed system, with respect to commercial units, is associated with better customisation and flexibility to implement a variety of low-cost sensors. Moreover, low-cost sensor modules reduce the overall cost to provide a comprehensive, portable, and real-time monitoring solution. This development facilities researchers and interested enthusiasts to become engaged and proactive in participating in the study, management, and improvement of IEQ.

1. Introduction

The indoor environment plays a critical role in our well-being due to the amount of time we spend indoors. The European Commission estimates that Europeans spend around 90% of their time in closed surrounds, mainly at home or in the workplace [1]. It is therefore unsurprising that our everyday surroundings have the power to drastically influence our health in a positive or negative way. Indoor environments can be two to five times more toxic than the outdoors [2]. For instance, up to 20% of Europeans suffer from asthma due to substances inhaled indoors. Tobacco smoke, asbestos, radon, and benzene released inside buildings have been identified as key contributors to the increases in EU cancer cases [1]. In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that air pollution is the world’s largest single environmental health risk, after an estimated 7 million people died (one in eight of total global deaths) in 2012 as a result of air pollution exposure [3]. Studies have linked indoor air quality (IAQ) to mental health and illnesses that are not easily noticeable in the short-term but could be major concerns in the long-term [4]. The vast majority of air pollution deaths are attributed to cardiovascular diseases, such as strokes, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Moreover, new research has established a link between air pollution and increased mental illness in children. The results suggest that higher concentrations of air pollution, first and foremost from traffic, may increase psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents [5]. Air pollution is currently monitored by environmental or government authorities using static monitoring stations, which are equipped with instruments for measuring regulatory pollutants. The air pollutant analysers are relatively bulky, heavy, and expensive, with price ranges between €5000 and €30,000 [6]. A significant amount of resources are also required to routinely maintain and calibrate them [7].

The growing concern about IAQ has resulted in the development of various indoor environment quality- (IEQ-) monitoring systems. IEQ is a holistic concept, encompassing elements of IAQ, indoor lighting quality (ILQ), acoustic comfort, and thermal comfort (temperature and relative humidity). Together with ventilation and air-conditioning systems, these factors affect the health, comfort, and performance of occupants. The two most common methods of improving indoor air quality are increasing the ventilation rate, which in turn reduces air pollutants, and reducing the sources of pollutants directly [8]. Other approaches include replacing outdated appliances and introducing filtering systems. However, to identify sources of poor IEQ and evaluate the effectiveness of improvement strategies, chemical and physical monitoring is needed. Moreover, monitoring systems of this nature are needed for everyday users to become engaged and proactive in participating in the management and improvement of the environmental quality at home.

Recent developments to improve the monitoring of IEQ parameters include smart objects, which can manage and control the occupant’s surroundings. This involves “hacking” common objects, such as fans or desk lamps, to make them capable of carrying out smart operations to improve the comfort of the indoor environment [9]. Others have used gas sensors to construct a miniature electronic nose (eNose), which can detect poisonous organic vapours indoors [10]. Combining multiple sensors into one unit means for more broadly assessing conditions relating to adverse health effects, such as hazardous gaseous substances, and conditions more affecting the comfort and well-being of residents or workers. Many of these parameters are interesting when considering the development of “smart homes” and a higher level of automation regarding household appliances.

A number of EU-funded projects, including SENSIndoor, EuNetAir, and IAQSense, have focused on realising selective, low-ppb measurement low-cost gas sensors, with quite promising results. The outcomes of these projects include novel sensor systems, real-time monitors, VOC sensor systems, preconcentrators, air quality modelling, and standardised methods [11–13]. However, these call for a deeper understanding of sensor operation and read-out, which cannot necessarily be obtained with off-the-shelf electronic modules. Projects such as Multi Sensor Platform (MSP) have successfully put together a variety of sensors into a micromechanic approach to provide novel methods of monitoring IEQ parameters. These developments are likely to encourage institutions, researchers, and businesses to take a greater interest in the advancements and trends in IAQ-related research.

Efforts have also been made to design sophisticated monitoring systems, which utilize artificial neural networks (ANN) to classify the sources influencing IAQ in various indoor environments [14]. Personalised mobile sensing systems are also on the rise, with the development of a portable indoor location-tracking sensor that uses carbon dioxide measurements to determine accurate personal-proximity IAQ readings [15].

For households and small businesses, there is a limited variety of commercially available air quality-monitoring devices, including some industrial-grade equipment and consumer-grade app-enabled devices. Industrial monitors tend to measure individual parameters with greater precision. The prices of consumer products range from £150 to £400, depending on their measurement capabilities and features. Popular “all-round” products, such as Foobot (Airboxlab S.A.S., USA) and Awair (Bitfinder, USA), measure temperature, humidity, VOCs, and PM2.5. These products do not provide a comprehensive monitoring solution for other important parameters relating to IEQ. Furthermore, these devices are not portable, since they require constant connection to a mains plug. The occupant is therefore limited to only monitoring easily accessible areas. Lastly, many of these products do not provide real-time readings. Instead, intermittent hourly reports are generated and sent to the phone app. Real-time readings are critical for applications in evacuation or air cleaner systems [16].

In addition to personal monitoring devices, some community-led air quality-sensing networks have been established. Prominent examples include the Air Quality Egg (Wicked Device, USA) and the Smart Citizen Platform (Acrobotic Industries, USA). The concept involves Wi-Fi-enabled hardware, which acts as a network node to measure and share IEQ data. The user can then track their personal environment using a phone app or log in to the platform to engage with the wider community. While this model provides an interesting method of large-scale urban IEQ-monitoring, the costs of setting up network nodes is likely to be unaffordable for most households. At $280 per Air Quality Egg, $1400 would have to be spent in order to provide a comprehensive monitoring node [17]. Based on these findings, the system proposed in this article has been designed to reduce the cost for a comprehensive unit, which offers a portable and real-time monitoring solution for IEQ. In addition, it provides details of how units can be constructed out of existing commercially available sensors.

2. Materials and Methods

In the past few years, with rising levels of smog in China, PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become key indicators for indoor air quality. However, there are various other parameters involved with the monitoring of IEQ. Previous research into IAQ systems commonly targeted carbon dioxide (CO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), temperature, and humidity [14].

Approaches to monitoring indoor pollutants frequently involve the use of individual sensors and/or sensors cards or the design of a custom system-on-chip (SoC). Sensor cards do not provide the desired flexibility of selecting a comprehensive mix of sensors. Moreover, customising an IEQ SoC is associated with extraordinarily high design and fabrication costs. The production technique and cost is often closely related to the required production volume. It is unlikely that research groups or interested enthusiasts can afford to produce a custom SoC for small-volume development projects.

Therefore, most research systems use the first option, whereby individual sensors are assembled into a system. In part, this could be considered similar to an electronic nose (the so-called eNose). In our case, this approach was also used.

The aim was to design a system able to operate as a rechargeable and portable unit, which measures indoor air pollutants via low-cost sensor modules. Our selected sensors were interfaced with a microcontroller development board (Feather M0) to process the measured signals and determine the IEQ status in real time. The system was designed to store raw data onto a microSD card for subsequent processing and analysis. The values are also printed to a low-power OLED display, which provides the user with constant feedback. Internal ventilation within the device is created by a microfan. To provide the most comprehensive monitoring of IEQ parameters, an array of ten sensors was implemented. A list of sensors and manufacturers is given in Table 1.

Table 1: Sensors deployed within the IEQ-monitoring unit.

Product
Type
Manufacturer
Operating principle

SHT31
Temperature & humidity
Sensirion
CMOS technology

HPMA115S0
Particulate matter
Honeywell
Laser-based light scattering

CCS811
Total VOC (TVOC1)
AMS
Metal oxide gas sensor

iAQ-Core C
Total VOC (TVOC2)
AMS
Micromachined MOS technology

MiCS-VZ-89TE
Total VOC (TVOC3)
SGX Sensortech
MOS technology

T6713
CO₂
Amphenol
Nondispersive infrared (NDIR)

LLC 110-102
CO
SPEC Sensors
Amperometric gas sensor

LLC 110-801
Indoor air quality
SPEC Sensors
Amperometric gas sensor

TSL2561
Illuminance (light)
TAOS
Infrared-responding photodiode

Adafruit #1063
Microphone
Adafruit
Electret microphone with amplifier

For sensor flexibility, two SPEC sensors have been incorporated into the design to enable certain system modifications. The SPEC sensor range shares an identical PCB footprint, which makes it possible and convenient to exchange sensors, based on application needs. The CO and IAQ sensors can therefore be swapped for 6 other sensors, such as ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), breath alcohol, and respiratory irritants.

Three TVOC sensors are deployed within the IEQ-monitoring unit. They operate on the principle of MEMS metal oxide semiconductor- (MOS-) sensing technology by correlating CO₂ readings with measured TVOC levels. CO₂ is widely used as a measure for indoor air quality, since people are the principal source of CO₂ in an indoor environment. Algorithms are used to directly correlate CO₂ with TVOC levels. The limitation of this approach is that any secondary or unexpected VOC sources can result in false readings. These sensors have been developed to replace more expensive NDIR sensors in building automation and heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning applications. However, the cost of CO₂ sensors is rapidly dropping. While these sensors are known for their lack of accuracy, multiple sensors can be used in an eNose approach to gain more information about different VOC contaminants.

Details of sensor module names, measurement ranges, and accuracy are summarised in Table 2. The system diagram for the IEQ-monitoring device is shown in Figure 1.

Table 2: Sensor module names, measurement ranges, and accuracy.

Type
Module
Measurement range
Accuracy

Temperature
SHT31
0–100%
±2% RH

Humidity
SHT31
−40 to 125°C
±0.3°C

PM2.5/PM10
HPMA115S0
0–1000 μg/m³
±15%

Total VOC (TVOC1)
CCS811
0–1200 ppb
N/A

Total VOC (TVOC2)
iAQ-Core C
125–600 ppb
N/A

Total VOC (TVOC3)
MiCS-VZ-89TE
0–1000 ppb
N/A

CO₂
T6713
0–5000 ppm
±25 ppm

CO
LLC 110-102
0–1000 ppm
±2 ppm

Indoor air quality
LLC 110-801
0–100 ppm
±2 ppm

Illuminance (light)
TSL2561
0–17,000 lux
±5 lux

Microphone
Adafruit #1063
0–80 dB
±5 dB

Figure 1: IEQ-monitoring device—system diagram.

The manufacture and assembly of the prototype was completed in two stages. A custom PCB was created using Altium Designer (Altium, USA), based on the system diagram shown in Figure 1. Thereafter, the PCB was placed inside an electronics enclosure and connected to the other internal components, such as the fan and display. Free PCB design tools, such as Eagle (Autodesk, USA), can also be used by interested enthusiasts to design a PCB, suitable for their needs. The assembly stages are shown in Figure 2.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: IEQ-monitoring device assembly stages: (a) sensor modules mounted on a custom PCB and (b) assembled prototype with internal connections.

The cost of the sensor modules is under £150. With the inclusion of the electronics enclosure, microcontroller, microSD card reader, real-time clock, and OLED display, the hardware costs per unit is about £200. The sensor system is made up of commercial prototyping boards, which simply need to be plugged into the PCB. This allows researchers and interested enthusiasts to easily replicate a similar set-up. The following section discusses the individual sensing parameters and their respective impacts on IEQ.

2.1. Temperature and Humidity

UK/EU and US law do not state minimum or maximum temperatures in a workplace; however, at least 16°C is generally suggested [18]. Moreover, the WHO recommends 24°C as the maximum temperature for working in comfort [19]. Both very low or high relative humidity can cause physical discomfort, as the relative humidity of air directly affects temperature perception [20]. Very low (below 20%) relative humidities can also cause eye irritation [21]. High-humidity environments have a lot of vapour in the air, which prevents the exportation of sweat from the skin and should therefore be avoided [22]. Relative humidity levels between 40 and 70% do not have a major impact on thermal comfort. However, humidity levels beyond this threshold can increase the incidence of respiratory infections and allergies [20]. In combination with high temperatures, indoor humidity levels also lead to the growth of mould.

2.2. Particulate Matter

There are two categories of particle matter: the first are coarse dust particles between 2.5 and 10 micrometres (μm) in diameter, known as PM10. Examples of PM10 particles include dust, pollen, and mould. The second category includes fine particles with diameters of 2.5 μm or less, known as PM2.5. PM2.5 particles are produced from solid fuel combustion and industrial processes. In the US, the 24-hour average maximum level for PM2.5 is 35 μg per cubic metre (μg/m³) and 12 μg/m³ as an annual average. For PM10, the short-term limit is 150 μg/m³. There is currently no long-term standard [23]. In the UK/EU, the annual average exposure for PM2.5 and PM10 should not exceed the limits of 25 μg/m³ and 40 μg/m³, respectively [24]. A cohort study by the American Cancer Society tracked 1.2 million American adults for 26 years (1982–2008) and discovered that the mortality of lung cancer increased by 15–27% when PM2.5 air concentrations increased by 10 μg/m³ [25].

2.3. Total Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of concern as both indoor and outdoor air pollutants. Common VOCs include trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene, alcohols, and acrolein. VOCs are mostly reported as total VOC (TVOC) readings. This term recognises the combined effect of compounds that may not otherwise have been captured, due to low concentration levels. A low TVOC value usually indicates that there is no VOC problem; however, a high TVOC value may result from a high level of a single compound or from a vast collection of low compound levels [26]. Major contributors to TVOC levels in residences are household products, tobacco smoke, deodorants, and building materials. The health effects of high TVOC concentrations include nausea, dizziness, eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue [27]. Sources indicate that TVOC concentrations between 50 and 325 ppb are acceptable and should not exceed 500 ppb [28].

2.4. Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is classed as a substance hazardous to health in Europe. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, it is a colourless, nonflammable, and odourless gas. However, CO₂ is considered toxic in high concentrations, as well as an asphyxiate gas. Increased concentration levels can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. CO₂ levels between 350 and 1000 ppm are typical for occupied indoor spaces with good air exchange. The UK/EU and US long-term exposure limit (8-hour time-weighted average) is 5000 ppm [29, 30].

2.5. Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas. Common sources include tobacco smoke, engine exhausts, and improperly vented appliances. Average levels in UK homes, without gas stoves, vary from 0.5 to 5 parts-per-million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5–15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher [31]. Acute health effects at high concentrations can include dizziness, headaches, nausea, cardiovascular effects, and death [32]. In the UK/EU and US, long-term levels should remain below 9 ppm [24, 33].

2.6. Illuminance

Poor workplace illumination is associated with ill-health effects, ranging from eye strain, headaches, and fatigue to postural problems and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Dark or dimly lit workplaces can also lead to serious injuries or fatalities. There are no statutory workplace-lighting levels in the UK/EU; however, the HSE suggests that offices and workspaces should have an average illuminance of 200–500 lux for activities relating to writing, reading, and typing. These levels should not drop below 100 lux [34]. Recommended levels in the US vary from 75 to 500 lux.

2.7. Sound Levels

Sound levels are measured in decibels (dB) and are commonly associated with the acoustic comfort of occupants in buildings. There is a direct relationship between acoustic comfort and occupant productivity in commercial buildings [35]. The neutral sound pressure level for aural comfort in typical air-conditioned offices was found to be between 45 and 70 dB, with a mean of 57.5 dB [36]. For an 8-hour duration of exposure at the workplace, sound levels should not exceed the upper threshold of 65–80 dB [37].

Based on the guidelines stated above, Table 3 represents a summary of the IEQ index developed to indicate whether the readings are expected ambient levels or associated with health risks.

Table 3: IEQ index with parameters.

IEQ parameter
Ambient levels
Health risk levels

Humidity
40–70%
70 > H > 40%

Temperature
16–24°C
24 > T > 16°C

PM2.5
<35 μg/m³
>35 μg/m³

PM10
<150 μg/m³
>150 μg/m³

Total VOC
50–325 ppb
>500 ppb

CO₂
350–1000 ppm
>5000 ppm

CO
0–10 ppm
>10 ppm

Illuminance
200–500 lux
<100 lux

Sound levels
0–70 dB
>80 dB

Some highly relevant indoor gas components like formaldehyde or benzene are not included in the proposed IEQ unit. There are a very limited number of low-cost, off-the-shelf gas sensors that can provided the necessary accuracy and sensitivity to measure these parameters. Further research and development activities are required to test and compare commercially available options, in order to include these parameters in future iterations of the IEQ unit.

2.8. Sensor Calibration

Sensor systems in safety-critical applications must undergo rigorous testing to calibrate sensors to their target gases. This device is not intended for safety-critical applications; however, some basic calibration tests were undertaken. This is quite difficult for TVOC levels and particulate matter, as synthesis and systematic variation of these parameters exceed the complexity and funding available for the development of the device. Moreover, it is unlikely that small research groups or interested enthusiasts will have the means to repeat the necessary calibration procedures.

The temperature, humidity, and CO₂ readings for the developed IEQ unit were calibrated using a commercially available measurement system (CO210, Extech, USA). This unit uses maintenance-free NDIR CO₂ sensors and retails for £250. An automatic baseline calibration was completed prior to testing. The CO210 and IEQ unit were left in the laboratory environment for 1 hour to stabilise. There was no human activity in the laboratory for this duration. The recorded temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels are shown in Table 4.

Table 4: IEQ unit temperature, humidity, and CO₂ calibration.

Parameter
Extech CO210
IEQ unit
CO210 − IEQ

Temperature
23.2°C
21.3°C
+1.9°C

Humidity
31.2%
31.0%
+0.2%

CO₂
480 ppm
410 ppm
+70 ppm

The results from this calibration test indicate that the values from the IEQ unit are slightly lower than the “actual” values, measured using the CO210. The temperature and CO₂ readings are not within the uncertainty boundaries, stated by the manufacturers. Based on these differences, the temperature and CO₂ readings from the IEQ unit were adjusted by 1.9°C and 70 ppm, respectively.

2.9. Baseline Calibration

To better understand the baseline characteristics of the IEQ unit, the device was place inside an enclosure, along with the CO210, and exposed to zero air. Zero air is synthetic air, commonly used as a carrier gas. It is filtered to contain less than 0.1 ppm of total hydrocarbons. The zero-air generator flowrate was set to 500 ml/min. The devices were placed inside a sealed plastic enclosure, with approximate dimensions of 220 mm (L) × 180 mm (W) × 280 mm (H). The volume of the enclosure is therefore about 11 litres. Once the IEQ unit had stabilised, the zero-air gas line was connected to the enclosure inlet. Some IEQ parameters, such as temperature, light, and sound remained unchanged (as expected). The results of the other parameters are shown in Figures 3–7.

Figure 3: Zero-air baseline—PM2.5 and PM10.

Figure 4: Zero-air baseline—humidity.

Figure 5: Zero-air baseline—carbon dioxide.

Figure 6: Zero-air baseline—total VOCs.

Figure 7: Zero-air baseline—carbon monoxide and indoor air quality.

Some interesting characteristics were observed during this baseline calibration. IEQ parameters PM2.5, PM10, humidity, and CO₂ behave as expected, demonstrating a steep decline. Temperature, humidity, and CO₂ readings closely matched those of the CO210, indicating that these parameters had been calibrated successfully. PM10, humidity, and CO₂ do not reach 0 levels; however, this is likely due to enclosure leakage. Interestingly, the three TVOC sensors have distinctly different readings, when exposed to the same environment.

The minimum measurement read-out of TVOC2 is 125 ppb. This value could actually be 0 ppb, in agreement with TVOC1. However, this cannot be confirmed and must be assumed to be between 0 and 125 ppb. TVOC3 has a minimum read-out of 0 ppb, so the baseline value of approximately 240 ppb does not concur with TVOC1 or TVOC2. According to the manufacturer, these sensors are calibrated to a “typical” TVOC mixture, in an indoor environment. If the ratio of compounds in the environment is significantly different, the TVOC output will be affected, as some VOC compounds will have a greater or lesser effect on the sensor. TVOC3 is calibrated based on isobutylene-equivalent levels. If the other sensors were not calibrated using the same reference gas, the responses are unlikely to match. These results also seem to indicate that the zero-air gas line in our laboratory expels some VOCs that cannot be detected by TVOC1 or TVOC2 but respond to TVOC3. The CO and IAQ sensors did not respond to the zero-air exposure, indicating that the sensors had already settled to baseline levels.

2.10. IEQ Index

An IAQ index is a number used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted air currently is or is forecasted to become [38]. The index shown in Table 2 represents an improvement compared to a typical IAQ index, since additional factors influencing IEQ have also been taken into consideration. These indexes are useful since it is difficult for nonexpert users to identify how polluted the air is or what the pollution criteria might be. It has been argued that IAQ-monitoring devices should have the capability to notify users about the current air quality using an intuitive display, for example, simple colour-coded descriptions (good, moderate, unhealthy, very unhealthy) that can indicate the air quality level in real-time [16].

For the IEQ-monitoring system proposed in this article, a simple IEQ index indicator has been developed. Readings associated with ambient levels are classified as “good” or “average,” depending on whether they fall into the lower or upper half of the previously defined ambient levels. For temperature, the upper half of ambient levels will be considered “good,” while lower values will be considered “average.” IEQ parameter readings exceeding ambient levels will be classified as “poor” or “bad.” Values that slightly exceed the limits of ambient levels will be classified as “poor.” These are often values that lie between ambient levels and health risk levels. Health risk levels are considered “bad.” The IEQ index scoring system is summarised in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 5: IEQ index scoring system.

IEQ parameter
“Good”
“Average”
“Poor”
“Bad”

Humidity
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70 > H > 40%

Temperature
20–24°C
16–20°C
24–26°C
26 > T > 16°C

PM2.5
0–10 μg/m³
10–15 μg/m³
15–35 μg/m³
>35 μg/m³

PM10
0–50 μg/m³
50–80 μg/m³
80–150 μg/m³
>150 μg/m³

Total VOC
0–200 ppb
200–350 ppb
350–500 ppb
>500 ppb

CO₂
350–500 ppm
500–1000 ppm
1000–5000 ppm
>5000 ppm

CO
0–3 ppm
3–8 ppm
8–10 ppm
>10 ppm

Indoor air quality
0–10 ppm
10–25 ppm
25–50 ppm
>50 ppm

Illuminance
300–500 lux
200–300 lux
100–200 lux
<100 lux

Sound levels
0–40 dB
40–70 dB
70–80 dB
>80 dB

Scoring impact
0
0.2
0.5
1.0

Table 6: IEQ parameter impact and category.

Parameter number
IEQ parameter
IEQ impact (%)
IEQ category

1
Humidity
5
Thermal comfort

2
Temperature
5
Thermal comfort

3
PM2.5
5
Indoor air quality

4
PM10
5
Indoor air quality

5
TVOC1
10
Indoor air quality

6
TVOC2
10
Indoor air quality

7
TVOC3
10
Indoor air quality

8
CO₂
10
Indoor air quality

9
CO
10
Indoor air quality

10
Indoor air quality
10
Indoor air quality

11
Illuminance
10
Indoor lighting quality

12
Sound levels
10
Acoustic comfort

The 30% allocated to total VOCs is distributed equally amongst the three sensors. Based on the four IEQ categories, the percentage distribution can be summarised as 10% for thermal comfort, 10% for ILQ, 10% for acoustic comfort, and 70% to IAQ.

The IEQ score assumes a perfect score of 100%. For this scenario to be true, all IEQ parameters need to fall within the “good” boundaries, stated in Table 5. If any parameter is not “good,” the following calculation is completed to determine the impact on the overall IEQ score: the perfect IEQ score is reduced by the IEQ impact of the parameter, multiplied by the associated scoring impact. This is shown below:

As shown in Table 6, there are 12 IEQ parameters (referred to as Parameter number). The individual parameters are assessed, based on their score and impact, to determine the overall IEQ score. This calculation can be further explained using an example. If the lights turn off, the illuminance reading will drop to below 100 lux and will be categorised “bad.” The IEQ impact of illuminance is 10%. The scoring impact of “bad” is 1.0. If this is the only IEQ parameter that is not “good,” the IEQ score is simply calculated:

Based on this scoring system, if all parameters are “good,” the IEQ score is 100%. If all parameters were considered average, the IEQ score would be 80%. If all readings are “poor,” the IEQ score is 50%. Finally, if all the measurements are categorised as “bad,” the IEQ score would be 0%. These categories have been divided into IEQ indicators, as shown in Table 7. These are also displayed to the user with the IEQ percentage.

Table 7: IEQ user feedback.

IEQ score range (%)
IEQ indicator

0–40
Bad

40–60
Poor

60–70
Below average

70–80
Average

80–90
Above average

90–100
Good

This scoring system is quite simplistic but serves as a starting point for further development. There are various factors to consider; for example, the IEQ impact factors may need to be adjusted to follow a ranking based on potential health risks. Moreover, the sampling period, to determine whether a parameter is “good,” “average,” “poor,” or “bad,” plays a critical role. Short-term exposure limits are often calculated using 1-hour periods; however, users are likely to favour more frequent updates.

A sampling period of 10 minutes was used here. Readings from individual IEQ parameters will therefore be averaged over a period of 10 minutes. The overall IEQ score is then calculated and displayed to the user. The display also indicates which parameters are causing the IEQ to be lower, along with an associated (A), (P), or (B) rating, for “average,” “poor,” and “bad,” respectively.

The fully assembled IEQ-monitoring device is shown in Figure 8. Two IEQ scores are shown on the display in Figure 9, including a perfect IEQ score and a 90% IEQ score affected by “bad” indoor lighting quality, following on from the previous example.

Figure 8: Fully assembled IEQ-monitoring device.

(a)

(b)

Figure 9: IEQ scores on OLED display: (a) 100% IEQ score; (b) 90% IEQ score.

2.11. Electronics Enclosure and Battery Life

The dimensions of the electronics enclosure measure (L) 165 mm × (W) 105 mm × (H) 55 mm. The total mass of the device is about 570 g with batteries and 430 g without. An airing vent, with an enclosed mesh, has been machined into the top plate of the enclosure. The TSL2561 illuminance (light) sensor has been placed directly below the mesh to provide adequate exposure to ambient light. The side panel shown in Figure 8 conceals a microfan, which provides internal ventilation.

A key advantage of the proposed IEQ-monitoring device is that it can be powered either using a standard mains plug or using a rechargeable battery. The device is therefore portable and can be placed in locations and environments that are usually less accessible. The battery life of a device can be calculated from the input current rating, in milliampere hour (mAh), of the battery and the load current of the system. The unit is powered with a 10,000 mAh power bank. The device’s maximum load current was measured to be approximately 103 mA. The battery life of the proposed IEQ-monitoring unit is therefore estimated at 68 hours. This includes a 0.7 reduction factor, which has been included to consider allowances for external factors, which may also affect battery life [39]. Nonetheless, this estimate is likely to be exaggerated, since the Feather M0 requires a minimum input voltage. As the power bank discharges, the USB supply voltage will drop below 5 V. Eventually, the voltage will be insufficient to power the device. Taking this limitation into account, 48 hours of continuous operation is a more realistic estimate. The system was able to operate for approximately 60 hours, with intermittent use, over several days.

3. Results

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the unit’s potential to monitor IEQ parameters, including chemical presence (air freshener), outdoor pollution, and simulated human activity.

3.1. Chemical Presence

The experiments were conducted at the School of Engineering (University of Warwick). The system was placed in a medium-sized office/laboratory, located in the basement of the building. The office usually has five occupants during working hours. The office has no windows; however, ceiling lights provide illumination and an air-conditioning system operates continuously for ventilation. It has been suggested that monitoring devices should be positioned at a height between 75 and 120 cm, to occupy a space that is considered a breathing zone for the occupants [40]. The device was therefore placed on a desk, directly in front of one of the occupant’s work areas.

A commercially available spraying air freshener was used to expose the IEQ system to chemical presence. These products are advertised to release bursts of fragrance to neutralise odours. These types of air fresheners have widespread use in workplaces, schools, homes, and so forth. However, they can emit and generate a range of potentially hazardous air pollutants. From an IAQ perspective, air fresheners have been indicated as a primary source of volatile organic compounds within buildings [41]. This particular unit could be set to automatically spray fragrance in 9-, 18-, or 36-minute intervals. The air freshener was set to spray at 9-minute intervals. Some IEQ parameters, such as temperature, humidity, light, and sound remained constant. CO₂ showed only little variation. The results from this experiment are shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 10: Chemical presence—PM2.5 and PM10.

Figure 11: Chemical presence—total VOCs.

Three fragrance “events” are clearly visible in the sensor responses. The CO and IAQ sensors did not show any response, resembling Figure 7 from the baseline calibration experiment. The sampling period, to calculate the average readings, was 10 minutes. Table 8 provides a summary of the average readings for each IEQ parameter, pre- and postfragrance event, along with the associated indicator.

Table 8: Chemical presence IEQ parameter results.

IEQ parameter
Average reading (15–25 min)
Indicator
Average reading (25–35 min)
Indicator

Humidity
40.0%
Good
41.3%
Good

Temperature
23.4°C
Good
23.5°C
Good

PM2.5
4 μg/m³
Good
38 μg/m³
Poor

PM10
5 μg/m³
Good
40 μg/m³
Good

TVOC1
0 ppb
Good
202 ppb
Average

TVOC2
126 ppb
Good
173 ppb
Good

TVOC3
248 ppb
Average
765 ppb
Bad

CO₂
433 ppm
Good
418 ppm
Good

CO
1 ppm
Good
1 ppm
Good

IAQ
1 ppm
Good
1 ppm
Good

Illuminance
315 lux
Good
312 lux
Good

Sound levels
23 dB
Good
23 dB
Good

Based on the readings and indicators shown in Table 7, the IEQ score was calculated. TVOC3 is the only parameter that is not “good.” The IEQ score for the period 15–25 min is therefore 98%. The IEQ score for 25–35 min includes “poor” PM2.5, “average” TVOC1, and “bad” TVOC3. The overall IEQ score for this period is therefore

The use of air fresheners has caused the overall IEQ in the office to reduce by 12.5%. Two occupants were seated in the office environment during the chemical exposure experiment. Both stated that the perceived fragrance was “very strong” for the first 5 minutes after release. The following 4 minutes were described as “pleasant.” However, the fragrance was then released again, due to the setting of the 9-minute release timer, which produced another burst of fragrance, and so on. The subsequent fragrance events were also rated with an overall IEQ score of 85.5%, which is slightly above average. The user feedback from this experiment is shown in Figure 12.

Figure 12: IEQ score following exposure to air fresheners.

3.2. Outdoor Pollution

Despite the significant changes from the TVOC sensors in the chemical presence test, the CO and IAQ sensors showed little response. This is likely due to the higher measurement range of the SPEC sensors (ppm versus ppb). An additional experiment was therefore conducted to demonstrate the sensors’ potential to monitor their respective IEQ parameters. The IEQ device was relocated to the exit of a multistorey carpark, at the University of Warwick. The experiment was conducted in the late afternoon, as a number of vehicles were exiting the carpark. Some parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and light remained constant. The results from the CO, IAQ, and TVOC sensors are shown in Figures 13 and 14.

Figure 13: Outdoor pollution—carbon monoxide and IAQ.

Figure 14: Outdoor pollution—total VOCs.

Four distinct contamination “events” are visible in the sensor responses. These occur after about 3, 4, 7, and 7.5 minutes. The TVOC sensors indicate that there was another event after 6 minutes which was not registered by the CO and IAQ sensors. We can confirm that there were actually five vehicles that exited the carpark during the given timeframe. The first two events involved cars stopping near the device for a longer time, waiting for a gap to join the flow of traffic. Events at 7 and 7.5 minutes were cars that could join the traffic immediately and did not need to stop and wait. The event at 6 minutes was a motorcycle, passing quickly, which may explain why this event does not appear as a response on the less sensitive CO and IAQ sensors.

3.3. Simulated Human Activity

The previous experiments have established that the majority of sensors show promising results to potentially monitor their respective IEQ parameters. This had not yet been demonstrated for sound levels and illuminance. A separate experiment was conducted to validate these parameters. To show a real-world example of variations of sound and light, a lecture scenario was created. This involved setting up a speaker system, placing the IEQ unit inside a medium-sized lecture room and adjusting the light conditions. For 30 minutes, the lights were left on and the room was silent. Thereafter, the lights were dimmed and a recorded lecture was played to the room. After 30 minutes, the lights were turned back on and the recording was stopped. The results from experiment are shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15: Simulated human activity—illuminance and sound levels.

The audio recording could be heard clearly. During the first 10 minutes, the average sound level was approximately 53 dB, which is considered “average.” The average light level was 25 lux, which is considered “bad.” During this period, the overall IEQ score was 88%, which is above average.

4. Discussion

The sensor responses shown in Figures 10 and 11 and 13–15 demonstrate that the system shows the potential to monitor variations in IEQ parameters and calculate an IEQ score, based on a 10-minute averaging period. In Figures 11 and 14, the TVOC sensors show different magnitudes of responses, in terms of ppb; however, they generally align in terms of responding to specific events. This indicates that their sensitivities to VOCs are not the same. It is therefore necessary to include all three of these sensors, in order to better understand the mixtures of VOCs in different environments. As shown during the baseline calibration experiment, some sensors may not respond to certain VOCs, while others do.

Figure 13 shows the IAQ sensor reading saturating at 100 ppm; however, it did not even exceed 1 ppm during the indoor chemical exposure experiment. It seems that this sensor is more sensitive to contaminants that are expelled from motor vehicles than to those released in the chemical experiment. Further experiments are required to identify which indoor pollutants can be measured using this sensor.

This article focuses on the processes associated with the design, development, and manufacture of an IEQ-monitoring device. The IEQ score refers to a simple look-up table and may be deemed too simplistic, due to the complex interplay and correlations between various IEQ parameters. Longer tests (day or weeks) will be conducted in the future, to analyse the unit’s reliability to follow long-term variations in IEQ parameters and how this may affect the overall IEQ. However, some additional instrumentation will be necessary to provide accurate reference data. The sampling period of 10 minutes can also be increased or decreased to monitor variations of parameters over different time periods.

There are many factors relating to human senses that cannot be adequately considered in this context. For example, apart from average illuminance, colour (temperature/continuous spectrum) and modulation are important aspects that should be taken into account. Moreover, apart from mean sound levels in dB, variations, peaks, and weighting are important quantitative features to consider. One fundamental problem of acoustics is relating physical measures of sound to subjective impressions. Perceived noise (PN) levels may not align with acquired readings. Methods of estimating PN include weighted sums over frequency bands; however, further work and advanced audio-processing expertise are required to investigate this limitation.

Similarly, state-of-the-art ASHRAE standards have not been considered, regarding temperature and humidity. The CBE thermal comfort tool includes parameter control of the following factors: air temperature, mean radiant temperature, air speed, humidity, metabolic rate, and clothing, to determine compliance with ASHREA-55 standards for acceptable thermal environments. Further work and design activities are required to investigate these parameters and include them in the IEQ index.

5. Conclusions

This article described the design and development of a low-cost, portable, battery-powered monitoring device for indoor environment quality (IEQ). The use of commercially available low-cost sensors and a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach provided the fastest and most efficient development of the prototype. The unit monitors temperature, humidity, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC (×3), CO₂, CO, IAQ, illuminance, and sound levels. A custom IEQ index was developed to rate the recorded measurements with a scoring system to calculate an overall IEQ percentage.

The potential of this system was confirmed and demonstrated by experiments conducted in various environments, including exposure to a typical indoor working environment (air fresheners, lighting, and sound) and outdoor air pollution. The device was successfully able to record variations in IEQ parameters. The advantages of the proposed system, with respect to commercial alternatives, is associated with fast prototyping, better customisation, and flexibility to implement a variety of low-cost sensors. Moreover, low-cost sensor modules minimise the cost to provide a comprehensive, portable, and real-time monitoring solution, for less than £200. Our future efforts are now focused on further reducing the size of the system and deploying them in pollution- and agricultural-monitoring applications. A concise, simple, and repeatable calibration strategy will be developed in preparation for this work. This development is intended to facilitate researchers, enthusiasts or everyday users to become engaged and proactive in participating in the study, management, and improvement of IEQ.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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