Air pollution is a big problem in cities like Hyderabad, where tiny particles in the air, called particulate matter (PM), can harm our health. These particles, known as PM2.5 and PM10, come from things like car exhaust, construction dust, and factories. To keep track of air quality, we need accurate, affordable, and easy-to-use tools. In 2021, researchers at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Hyderabad tested low-cost air quality sensors to see if they could do the job. Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor (PAS-OUT-01) was one of the stars of this study, proving it could measure air pollution reliably in homes and busy city streets. Let’s dive into how Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor at IIIT Hyderabad helped improve air quality monitoring and why it matters.
Client: International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad
Research Paper: Comparative Evaluation of New Low-Cost Particulate Matter
Sensors
Location: Hyderabad, India
Industry: Research and Environmental Monitoring
Solution Provided: Prana Air Outdoor PM Sensor (PAS-OUT-01)
Year: 2021
The Problem
Traditional air quality monitors are like big, expensive machines that need constant care. They’re great for scientists but not practical for everyday use. Imagine trying to put one in every neighbourhood—they’re too costly and bulky! Cities like Hyderabad need affordable sensors that can check air quality in many places at once, like near schools, markets, or factories. IIIT Hyderabad wanted to find out if low-cost sensors could:
- Measure PM2.5 and PM10 accurately, whether indoors or outdoors.
- Give real-time updates on air pollution levels.
- Works well in different settings, like quiet homes or busy roads.
- Be consistent, so every sensor gives similar results.
Prana Air’s job was to show that its small, budget-friendly sensor could compete with a high-end device called the Aeroqual Series-500, which the researchers used as their benchmark.
The Solution: Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor
Prana Air’s PAS-OUT-01 sensor is a tiny but powerful tool designed to measure PM2.5 and PM10 in the air. It’s like a mini detective, sniffing out pollution and reporting it instantly. Here’s what makes it special:
- Smart Laser Technology: It uses a laser to spot tiny particles, making sure it catches both small (PM2.5) and larger (PM10) bits of pollution.
- Easy to Carry: It’s small and light, so you can take it anywhere—perfect for testing the air in different places.
- Real-Time Updates: It gives pollution readings right away, like getting live traffic updates on your phone.
- Connects to the Cloud: The sensor sends data to an online platform, so you can check air quality on your phone or computer.
- Saves Energy: It uses very little power, which is good for the planet.
- Built to Last: It’s tough, safe, and can work for up to 10 years with little upkeep.
- These features made Prana Air’s sensor a great choice for IIIT Hyderabad’s study, offering a practical way to monitor air quality without breaking the bank.
How It Worked
The IIIT Hyderabad team set up a clever experiment to test Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor alongside two others: SDS011 and SPS30. They compared all three to the Aeroqual Series-500, a top-notch device used as the “gold standard.” The study happened in two parts:
1. Indoor Testing
- Setup: The team placed three test stations, each with a Prana Air, SDS011, and SPS30 sensor, near an open window in a room for a week. They collected tons of data—about 200,000 measurements!
- Goal: See how well the sensors worked in a calm, indoor setting with fresh air coming through the window.
- Data Collection: The sensors recorded PM2.5 and PM10 every 2 seconds. The data was sent to an online platform called ThingSpeak using Wi-Fi and a 4G connection. Then analyzed to check results over short (1-minute) and longer (1-hour) periods.
2. Outdoor Testing
- Setup: The team set up the same test stations and the Aeroqual device in a car with open windows. They drove around Hyderabad, stopping for 30–45 minutes in busy areas like markets, industrial zones, and quiet neighbourhoods. They gathered about 30,000 measurements.
- Goal: Test how the sensors handled real-world pollution from things like traffic and construction dust.
- Data Collection: Just like indoors, data was collected every 2 seconds and analyzed to see how the sensors performed in changing conditions.
How They Judged the Outdoor PM Sensor at IIIT Hyderabad?
The researchers looked at three things:
- Accuracy (R²): How closely the sensor’s readings matched the Aeroqual device.
- Consistency (C_v): Whether different units of the same sensor gave similar results.
- Error (RMSE): How much the sensor’s readings improved after fine-tuning (calibration).
They also adjusted the sensors’ data (calibration) to make it match the Aeroqual device better.
What They Found
Prana Air’s outdoor PM sensor did an amazing job, showing it’s a reliable and affordable way to check air quality. Here’s what the study revealed:
Indoor Results
- Super Accurate: Prana Air’s sensor was almost as good as the Aeroqual device. For PM2.5, it scored 99% accuracy for quick checks (1-minute) and 97% for longer checks (1-hour). For PM10, it scored 98% to 89%, still very impressive!
- Very Consistent: Different Prana Air sensors gave similar results, with only about 5–6% variation. This was better than SDS011 (9%) and close to SPS30 (3%).
- Great After Tuning: After calibration, Prana Air had the smallest error for PM2.5 (1.8 units off), beating SDS011 (3.4) and SPS30 (2.6). For PM10, its error was higher (8.3), but still good compared to SPS30 (8.8).
- Tracking Trends: The sensor followed the same pollution patterns as the Aeroqual device, though it sometimes underestimated high pollution levels. Calibration fixed this.
Outdoor Results
- Good but Trickier: Outdoors, the sensor’s accuracy was lower—60% to 74% for PM2.5 and 61% to 68% for PM10—because pollution levels changed fast (like dust from a passing truck). It wasn’t as good as SDS011 but matched SPS30.
- Still Consistent: The sensor’s variation was 6–8%, better than SDS011 (9–20%) and close to SPS30 (3–4%).
- Real-World Challenges: The sensor had trouble keeping up with sudden pollution spikes, but it still gave useful data in busy city conditions.
Calibration Boost
Fine-tuning the sensor made a big difference indoors, bringing its accuracy to 91% for PM2.5 over an hour. Graphs showed Prana Air’s data lining up beautifully with the Aeroqual device after this tweak, especially for PM2.5.
Why It Matters
Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor made a big impact in the IIIT Hyderabad study, showing that low-cost tools can help keep our air cleaner. Here’s how it helped:
- Affordable for Everyone: Unlike expensive machines, Prana Air’s sensor is cheap enough to use in many places, like schools or parks.
- Perfect for Smart Cities: Its ability to send data online makes it great for creating city-wide air quality maps.
- Trustworthy Results: The sensor’s accuracy and consistency mean you can rely on it for important decisions, like warning people about bad air days.
- Healthier Communities: By giving real-time pollution updates, it helps people and leaders take action, like closing windows or reducing traffic, to protect our lungs.
- Boosting Research: The study proved that affordable sensors like Prana Air’s can be used for serious science, helping us learn more about air pollution.
Conclusion
Prana Air’s Outdoor PM Sensor at IIIT Hyderabad has proved it’s a powerful tool in the fight against air pollution. In IIIT Hyderabad’s 2021 study, it delivered accurate, consistent results, making it a top choice for affordable air quality monitoring. Whether it’s keeping homes safe or tracking pollution in busy cities, Prana Air’s sensor is helping create a cleaner, healthier world. With its smart technology and budget-friendly price, Prana Air is leading the way to fresher air for all.
