How to Build an Air Quality Sensor and Upload Data – Guide
The Sensor.Community website is a great place to find air quality data from around the world. You can build your own DIY air quality station by following these simple steps:
- Log in to the Sensor.Community website and create an account.
- Choose a location in your area and upload your air quality data to the website.
- Share your data with other citizens who are interested in learning about air pollution in their area.
Are you concerned about air pollution in your neighborhood? So why not build your own air quality station? It doesn’t cost much to assemble from a few standard components and a few sensors to measure particle levels, along with temperature, pressure and relative humidity.
The Sensor.Community citizen science project is a great way to get involved in air quality research. You can join the project and help us assemble an air quality station, install the software and get it up on the network in no time.
1. Source Components
To build the air quality station, you will need a selection of standard electronic components and other necessary supplies. ..
What you will need:
The NodeMCU is a microcontroller that is used in devices such as smartphones and tablets. It has a number of features that make it an attractive option for developers and hobbyists. The NodeMCU is also available in two different versions, the v3 and v2.
The 6-pin BME280 temperature, pressure and humidity sensor is a great addition to any home or office. This sensor can provide real-time information about your environment, allowing you to make better decisions about how to keep your home or office comfortable.
A jumper is a type of electrical connector that allows two devices to be connected together without having to use a wire. Jumper cables are often used to connect different parts of a computer or other electronic device.
This 5V 2A power supply and USB to micro-USB cable is perfect for anyone who wants to use their computer with a low-power adapter. It has a 5V 2A power supply that provides enough power for most devices, and a micro-USB port that makes it easy to connect your devices.
A plastic drop tube can bend in two directions, making it difficult to store or transport items.
Adhesive putty or strips are a type of adhesive that is used to fix things together.
A flexible plastic tube is a type of tube that can be bent or twisted to create different shapes. This type of tube is often used in medical procedures, such as surgery and childbirth.
2. Install the driver
Windows: https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/releases/download/v3.6.1/arduino-3.6.1-windows-x86_64.zip Mac: https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/releases/download/v3.6.1a/arduino-3.6.1a-macOSX10_13_4_intel.zip Linux: https://github.com/arduino/Arduino/releases ..
Windows:
NodeMCU is a powerful chip that enables Windows 10 to run faster and smoother than before. It also supports many features not available on other platforms, such as DirectX 12 and Vulkan.
The NodeMCU v2 Windows 7/8/ 8.1, 32-bit version is a chip designed for use with the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is a low-power device that allows you to run your own applications and games without having to worry about battery life.
The CP210xVCPInstaller_x64 application opens and begins to install the cp210x driver.
NodeMCU v3 is a powerful development board based on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor. It can be used to create projects for IoT, home automation, and other embedded systems. NodeMCU v3 is available for Windows 10/8.1/8/7 and MacOSX 10.11 or later. ..
In the SETUP application, click on the FILE button and select the CH341SER.INI file from the list. Click on the OK button to close the SETUP application.
Mac:
Unzip the CP210x folder and double-click the CP210xVCPInstaller_x64 application. Restart your Mac.
Double-click on the CH341SER folder to open it. Click on the SETUP application to start the installation process. Restart your computer after installation is complete. ..
3. Update firmware
Next, you will need to update the Sensor.Community firmware on the NodeMCU. To do this, download the Airrohr firmware update tool; choose the appropriate version for your computer’s operating system.
Upload the latest firmware to your connected NodeMCU card.
4. Connect your sensors
It is time to connect your sensors to the NodeMCU board. If your BME280 does not have male pins, you will need to solder some to it.
5. Configure the station
When you call for the first time up the air quality station, it will create a wireless access point named airRohr (or Particulate Matter or Feinstaubsensor). Make a note of this number as you will need it to register the station later.
To connect your computer to this wireless access point and point a web browser to http://192.168.4.1, follow these steps:
- Connect your computer to the wireless access point using an Ethernet cable.
- Point a web browser to http://192.168.4.1 and enter the password for your wireless router, if you have one.
- When you’re finished connecting, click Setup > WiFi Settings and select your wireless router from the list of options.
To save the settings and restart the station, click on the Save configuration and restart option. It will then connect to your wireless network and be accessible at its allocated IP address. To find out, look in your router’s device list for a device called ‘Airrohr-‘ followed by its chip ID. ..
To complete the setup, visit the IP address in your web browser. Make sure the sensors you are using are checked on the Setup > Sensors tab, and click on the Save Configuration and Restart option to save the settings. ..
Please confirm that the web dashboard is working and that all data is being collected.
6. Register the device
To allow your station to upload data to the Sensor.Community website, you will need to create an account. Go to the devices login page and create an account. ..
To register a new sensor, log in to My sensors and enter the SIM ID number you wrote down. For Sensor Board, select ‘esp8266’. ..
- In the Hardware Setup window, select the correct sensors for your station.
- Choose your station’s location on the map and click Save settings. ..
Sensor.Community is currently receiving data from the station. You can check the status by clicking the Data button on the My Sensors page, or by viewing it on the map. ..
7. Weatherproof box
To protect your station from the elements, you can house it inside a few plastic downpipe bends.
To insert the electronics into one of the tube bends, you will need to determine the type of tube used and position the dust sensor further up. You can then connect the flexible plastic tube to its shiny metal air inlet and pass the pipe to the final of piping, together with the BME280 sensor. ..
Our square tube was not wide enough to push the dust sensor away. So we put it closer to the end and we don’t really need the hose, although we added a short length. ..
The NodeMCU board should be positioned further up on the tube, near the junction with the second bend of the tube. The USB power cable should be run through the end of that section of tube. The sensors and adhesive putty or strips should be used to secure the NodeMCU board and the tube.
When you’re happy and the station is working, wrap tape around the junction of the tube bends. If you want to prevent insects and other creepers from entering the station, you can also put some fine mesh on the ends of the tube.
8. Outdoor mounting
Weatherproof air quality stations should be positioned in an outdoor location, preferably 5 to 12 feet above the ground and well ventilated. We secure ours under a roof gutter using three daisy-chained cable ties. Alternatively, you can attach it to a downpipe. ..
To power your air quality station, you may need a long USB cable to reach an electrical outlet indoors. If your station is too far away from your wireless router to maintain a good signal, you might also consider placing a Wi-Fi range extender closer to the station. ..
9. Check your data
Visiting the Sensor.Community world map allows you to check your station (and all others) and view your current readings and recent data in 24-hour charts and moving averages over a week. ..
The particulate matter levels in the air can be viewed. You can use the lower left menu to view temperature, pressure and relative humidity.
Building an Air Quality Station: Success
You have now set up your own air quality station and can view your data on a world map, along with that of thousands of other stations around the globe. This data will be valuable to the Sensor.Community citizen science program, which aims to improve air quality data worldwide. ..
Final note
This guide is about how to build an air quality sensor and upload data. If you have any query about this article, you may ask us. Additionally, please share your love by sharing this article with your friends.
