IPB University Research Team Develops AQIMOS, a Real-time and Cost-Effective Air Quality Monitoring Tool
The IPB University research team developed an air quality monitoring tool called Air Quality IPB Monitoring System (AQIMOS), an innovation to speed up and simplify real-time monitoring of the Air Pollution Standard Index (ISPU). This tool comes in static and portable forms, and is claimed to be far more efficient and economical than conventional tools that have been used so far.
According to the chairman of the research team, Prof Arief Sabdo Yuwono, AQIMOS comes as a solution to accelerate the air quality monitoring process. This tool can cut the reporting time from 24 hours to only 1,6 minutes.
“We see the fact that conventional ISPU measuring instruments and props in Indonesia convey the results within 24 hours. We see that it takes too long, because this is related to the gases that are the parameters of air pollution,” said Prof Arief.
Departing from this problem, Prof Arief together with a team of other cross-faculty researchers, namely Prof Husin Alatas and Dr Rady Purbakawaca from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) IPB University, conducted research for several years to develop AQIMOS.
“We believe that the 24 hour reporting system can be improved by implementing various improvements, starting from the sensor, data processing, and then reporting. Alhamdulillah, we now have the result that the ISPU measuring and reporting device has been able to report the results in only 1,6 minutes,” he explained.
AQIMOS is equipped with various sensors to measure air particles under 2,5 microns (PM2.5) and 10 microns (PM10), as well as various polluting gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), and hydrocarbons (HC).
It is also capable of monitoring air temperature, light intensity, wind direction and speed, relative humidity, air pressure, and rainfall.
The way AQIMOS works is very different from conventional systems. While older systems rely on air sampling which is then analyzed in a laboratory with new results available the next day, AQIMOS analyzes the air directly inside the device.
“Ambient air is sampled, then analyzed in this tool. The parameters tested are in accordance with applicable regulations. All air samples are analyzed directly inside the device. So, in just 1,6 minutes this tool can serve,” explained Prof Arief.
Furthermore, AQIMOS is also able to display measurement results through real-time applications, both where the sensor is installed and remotely, including via cellphone or computer.
In addition to its fast and accurate capabilities, AQIMOS also has the advantage of mobility. This tool is portable, can be moved, uses solar panels as a power source, and has a much more competitive price than conventional ISPU devices.
Prof Arief hopes that with the presence of this innovation, air quality monitoring in Indonesia can be done more quickly and efficiently, so that it can help mitigate the impact of air pollution in a responsive and targeted manner. (Fj) (IAAS/PRO)
