Discipline: Technology and Engineering
Subcategory: Environmental Engineering
Cedric Selph - Delaware Technical Community College
We propose an efficient and fast sampling measurement using electrochemical sensors to simultaneously detect of suite of trace chemicals and particulate matter in the earth’s atmosphere. The sensors are integrated to an unmanned aerial platform for rapid and standoff spatio-temporal profiling of toxic chemicals and pollutants in the atmospheric boundary layer region. The developed technology is based on miniature electrochemical gas sensors that can report minute concentration of chemicals in the parts-per-billion (ppb) range. In addition, these sensors were electronically interfaced on a wireless sensor network platform for autonomous mapping of emissions over wide geographical area. The overall goal is to determine toxic chemical, pollutants and particulate matter concentration from remote and standoff distances. The sensors use established technologies that provide real-time regional data on air-quality for use in implementing the nation’s air quality standards, enforcement and research. In this project we demonstrate simultaneous detection of six chemicals that include Carbon Monoxide, Nitric Oxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Ozone, Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide. In addition, the sensing module also integrates a particulate matter (PM 2-10 µm) sensor to report PM concentration, and metrological parameters like temperature in real-time. The sensor module is based on commercial units from Alphasense Inc. which were controlled by set of customized microcontroller modules with 1-second sampling for detection and calibration. For data acquisition, logging and wireless communications design, we use a microcontroller module (Arduino) to acquire trace gas concentration in ppb range and metrological data (temperature) data from a BME 280 sensor. Real-time readings and calculations performed are transmitted via Bluetooth to a ground module for data interpretation on an LCD screen up to 1.8km away.
Not SubmittedFunder Acknowledgement(s): We acknowledge the Optical Science Center for Applied Research (OSCAR), the financial support of the National Science Foundation (NSF-CREST grant # 1242067), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA MIRO grant # NNX15AP84A) and the NIH Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (NIH?INBRE grant #5P20GM103446-15)
Faculty Advisor: Mohammad A. Khan, mkhan@desu.edu
Role: I was the main researcher, this involved learning how the sensors worked, and integrating them into a single micro controller platform (Arduino) to take air quality statistics. This project uses an arudino micro controller with 5-6 gas sensors to measure air quality. These devices are stored in a compact 3-D printed housing that can be attached to a drone. It also communicates with another arduino via Bluetooth, so we can read the measurements from the ground during flight.