Speaker
Description
Rapid urbanization and the growing demand for sustainable mobility are intensifying challenges related to air pollution and environmental management across African and global cities. This contribution introduces a smart pollution monitoring framework that integrates real-time environmental sensing with compact, low-power instrumentation to support cleaner and more efficient transportation systems. The research focuses on the Bosch BME688 metal oxide (MOX) sensor, a multi-gas device capable of detecting nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), isobutylene (C₄H₈), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), while simultaneously measuring temperature, humidity, and pressure. Experimental results from both controlled laboratory tests and real-world deployments demonstrate the sensor’s capacity for distributed, high-resolution air quality monitoring and its sensitivity to environmental conditions that influence pollutant detection. A custom gas chamber, programmable thermal profiles, and LabVIEW-based control software were developed to enhance measurement precision and reproducibility. The findings highlight the potential of low-cost, scalable environmental sensing systems to complement conventional monitoring stations, enabling wider coverage and improved understanding of urban air quality dynamics. Such technologies can support evidence-based policy, strengthen local research capacity, and contribute to sustainable mobility planning and public health protection across the African continent.
