Indoor Air Quality Assessment Using a CO₂ Monitoring System Based on Internet of Things

Indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters are not only directly related to occupational health but also have a significant impact on quality of life as people typically spend more than 90% of their time in indoor environments. Although IAQ is not usually monitored, it must be perceived as a relevant issue to follow up for the inhabitants’ well-being and comfort for enhanced living environments and occupational health. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has a substantial influence on public health and can be used as an essential index of IAQ. CO₂ levels over 1000 ppm, indicates an indoor air potential problem. Monitoring CO₂ concentration in real-time is essential to detect IAQ issues to quickly intervene in the building. The continuous technological advances in several areas such as Ambient Assisted Living and the Internet of Things (IoT) make it possible to build smart objects with significant capabilities for sensing and connecting. This paper presents the iAirCO₂ system, a solution for CO₂ real-time monitoring based on IoT architecture. The iAirCO₂ is composed of a hardware prototype for ambient data collection and a Web and smartphone software for data consulting. In future, it is planned that these data can be accessed by doctors in order to support medical diagnostics. Compared to other solutions, the iAirCO₂ is based on open-source technologies, providing a total Wi-Fi system, with several advantages such as its modularity, scalability, low-cost, and easy installation. The results reveal that the system can generate a viable IAQ appraisal, allowing to anticipate technical interventions that contribute to a healthier living environment.