Publication

Abstract : Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in academic laboratories is crucial for ensuring occupant health and productivity. However, research on IAQ in such environments remains limited. Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration is the dominant pollutant in computer-based laboratories. The concentration of CO2 accumulates when there is absence of fresh air ventilation. This study provides an IoT -based system for monitoring CO2 concentration and provide feedback in real time. The system incorporates an MG811 Gravity CO2 sensor and a DHT22 temperature-humidity sensor for monitoring the environmental conditions inside the laboratory. The system is integrated with an ESP32 Developer Module and the data is upload to online platform ThingSpeak for storage and real time monitoring. Visual alerts are triggered when CO2 concentrations breach 800 ppm and 1000 ppm. At a concentration of 1500 ppm an audio alert is provided to occupants. The results of the study indicate that the occupants of the laboratory during the afternoon session are exposed to higher concentrations of CO2 compared to those in the morning session. The study indicates the accumulation in CO2 concentration beyond threshold limit that indicate deficiency in ventilation rate and cause impact on cognitive performance and well-being. The real-time feedback mechanism provides the building managers and occupants an opportunity to intervene and take suitable measures to mitigate risks. By employing IoT architecture, the proposed system improves the monitoring of CO2 concentration in real time and helps in decision-making for improved environmental conditions. The findings highlight the need for an adaptive ventilation strategy in laboratory environments.