Towards a Smart City: Development and Application of an Improved Integrated Environmental Monitoring System

Abstract

Abstract:Environmental deprivation is an issue influencing the urban wellbeing of a city. However, there are limitations to spatiotemporally monitoring the environmental deprivation. Thus, recent studies have introduced the concept of "Smart City" with the use of advanced technology for real-time environmental monitoring. In this regard, this study presents an improved Integrated Environmental Monitoring System (IIEMS) with the consideration on nine environmental parameters: temperature, relative humidity, PM 2.5 , PM 10 , CO, SO 2 , volatile organic compounds (VOCs), UV index, and noise. This system was comprised of a mobile unit and a server-based platform with nine highly accurate micro-sensors in-coupling into the mobile unit for estimating these environmental exposures. A calibration test using existing monitoring station data was conducted in order to evaluate the systematic errors. Two applications with the use of the new system were also conducted under different scenarios: pre-and post-typhoon days and in areas with higher and lower vegetation coverage. Linear regressions were applied to predict the changes in environmental quality after a typhoon and to estimate the difference in environmental exposures between urban roads and green spaces. The results show that environmental exposures interact with each other, while some exposures are also controlled by location. PM 2.5 had the highest change after a typhoon with an estimated 8.0 µg/m 3 decrease that was controlled by other environmental factors and geographical location. Sound level and temperature were significantly higher on urban roads than in urban parks. This study demonstrates the potential to use IIEMS for environmental quality measurements under the greater framework of a Smart City and for sustainability research.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Borne Sensor System for Atmosphere-Particulate-Matter Measurements: Design and Experiments

“…In previous studies, the monitoring system was examined in field calibration experiments. For example, Man Sing Wong calibrated the monitoring system at the roadside air-quality monitoring station in Mong Kok, Hong Kong [38]. Therefore, this study conducted a calibration experiment at the national air-quality monitoring station (Figure 7).…”

Redefining the Use of Big Data in Urban Health for Increased Liveability in Smart Cities

“…X X Alvear, et al [34] X X Wong, et al [35] X X X X X Peckens, et al [36] X Segura-Garcia, et al [37] X Zhao, et al [38] X X X X Deo, et al [39] X Ekeu-wei, et al [40] X X Bačić, Jogun and Majić…”

Pass-by Characterization of Noise Emitted by Different Categories of Seagoing Ships in Ports

“…After the publication of European Noise Directive 2002/49/EC (END) [21], sustainability has grown towards the noise sources required by END: road and railway traffic [22][23][24], airports [25,26], and wind turbines [27,28]. For these type of noise sources, the scientific community has put a lot of effort into developing innovative and environmentally-friendly mitigations, such as low-noise pavements [29,30], live and integrated monitoring systems [31,32], sustainable metamaterial absorber [33,34], and sonic crystal noise barriers made of recycled materials [35].…”