Development of a Personalised Environmental Quality Monitoring System (PONG)

This article describes the design, development and testing of a Personalised envirONmental quality monitorinG system (referred to as PONG). The custom-built sensing solution monitors environmental factors relating to air quality (VOC and NO
₂
), light quality (UV intensity and index), acoustic comfort (ambient sound levels) and thermal comfort (temperature, humidity and pressure). Location information is also tracked for subsequent data mapping. The device transmits measurements via Bluetooth Low Energy to a nearby Android smartphone, which logs and displays the measurements to the user, on a bespoke Android application. The hardware consists of an in-house designed PCB, for microcontroller and sensors, enclosed in a 3D-printed case with a wrist-strap. The device was tested in a static location (countryside environment) and utilised as a mobile environmental tracker, worn by a volunteer. The functionality of the system was successfully demonstrated for both static and mobile testing.