Suitability Evaluation of Multipoint Simultaneous CO2 Sampling Wireless Sensors for Livestock Buildings

Abstract

The environment in livestock buildings must be controlled to ensure the health and welfare of both workers and animals, as well as to restrict the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere. Among the pollutants generated inside these premises, carbon dioxide (CO2) is of great interest in terms of animal welfare and ventilation control. The use of inexpensive sensors means that complete systems can be designed with a number of sensors located around the building. This paper describes a study of the suitability of multipoint simultaneous CO2 sensors operating in a wireless sensor network, which was found to operate satisfactorily under laboratory conditions and was found to be the best alternative for these applications. The sensors showed a highly linear response to CO2 concentrations, ranging from 500 to 5000 ppm. However, individual sensor response was found to differ, which made it necessary to calibrate each one separately. Sensor precision ranged between 80 and 110 ppm CO2, and sensor response to register a 95% change in concentration was estimated at around 5 min. These features mean this type of sensor network can be used to monitor animal welfare and also for environmental control in poorly ventilated livestock premises. According to the tests conducted in this study, a temporal drift may occur and therefore a regular calibration of sensors would be needed.

NDIR Gas Sensor for Spatial Monitoring of Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in Naturally Ventilated Livestock Buildings

“…[31] and Yasuda et al . [32], several different commercially available NDIR CO 2 sensors were compared with a reference method in the laboratory, and concluded that concentrations measured with all sensors agreed well with that of the calibration gas. However, field performance of the selected NDIR technique is still meager in current literature.…”

Sensor array for wireless remote monitoring of carbon dioxide and methane near carbon sequestration and oil recovery sites

“…[61][62][63][64] Occupational health and safety and animal husbandry articles oen report well-ventilated indoor ranching operations with CO 2 concentration in thousands of ppm. [65][66][67][68][69][70] Despite the accepted estimates of GHG emissions from ranching, there is a dearth of literature reporting ground-level outdoor ambient concentrations based on land use. 71,72 Satellite remote sensing efforts to date are only able to measure high altitude columns, resulting in distinctions of <5 ppm from heavy urban to light rural land use.…”

How Are Information Technologies Addressing Broiler Welfare? A Systematic Review Based on the Welfare Quality® Assessment

“…This group includes sensors for measuring concentration and pressure of gases, temperature, humidity, and airflow, being observed in 8 publications (14.0% of total publications). These "environmental sensors" were used in broiler houses to measure CO 2 [74] and NH 3 [76] concentrations as part of ventilation control systems [75] to provide information about environmental conditions to farmers [28] and as a component in the gas concentration control when using foam to humanely slaughter broilers in extreme situations [34]. Moreover, environmental sensors were also used in the control of ventilated chamber [30], as part of slaughter chambers used for small-flock depopulation [35], and in a study about the effects of low atmospheric stunning on broilers [64].…”