Air Pollution Monitoring System in Tinkercad

Summary

In this video, Amit Kumar, a first-year B.Tech Computer Science student, demonstrates how to build an air pollution monitoring system using an Arduino. The circuit includes a gas sensor to detect air pollution levels, an LCD display to show the air quality, and an alarm that activates when pollution exceeds a certain threshold. Amit walks through the components needed, the wiring setup, and the code used to control the system, explaining how the system monitors and reacts to varying levels of pollution, from fresh to very poor air quality. This project provides a practical solution to environmental monitoring.

Takeaways

• 😀 The project demonstrates building an air pollution monitoring system using an Arduino, LCD display, gas sensor, potentiometer, and alarm system.
• 😀 The system continuously monitors air pollution levels and displays the data on an LCD screen.
• 😀 The Arduino R3 microcontroller is used to control all components of the circuit.
• 😀 The gas sensor detects air pollution levels and outputs data to the Arduino, which is then displayed on the LCD screen.
• 😀 The LCD display shows real-time air quality, with a contrast setting controlled by the potentiometer.
• 😀 The system uses a simple code with libraries to manage the LCD, gas sensor, and alarm.
• 😀 The alarm triggers when the air pollution level surpasses a defined threshold, warning of high pollution.
• 😀 The circuit uses a breadboard to connect all components, with proper power and ground connections to each element.
• 😀 The Arduino sends output to the alarm when pollution reaches a dangerous level, with specific thresholds for 'fresh air', 'poor air', and 'very poor air'.
• 😀 The sensor outputs air quality data in parts per million (PPM), with specific thresholds for air quality classification.
• 😀 The demonstration includes a simulation to show the system's response when pollution levels increase and how the alarm behaves when the threshold is exceeded.

Q & A

What is the main objective of the air pollution monitoring circuit described in the video?

The main objective is to measure the level of pollution in the surrounding air and display the air quality status on an LCD screen, while triggering an alarm if pollution levels become too high.

Which microcontroller is used in this air pollution monitoring system?

The system uses an Arduino Uno R3 microcontroller to control all the operations and process sensor data.

What are the main components required for building this circuit?

The main components include an Arduino Uno R3, a breadboard, a 16x2 LCD display, a gas sensor, a potentiometer, and an alarm or buzzer.

What role does the gas sensor play in this project?

The gas sensor detects the concentration of pollutants or gases in the air and sends an analog signal to the Arduino, which interprets it to determine air quality levels.

How does the potentiometer contribute to the circuit?

The potentiometer controls the contrast of the LCD display, ensuring that the text is visible. Without it, the screen may appear blank or too bright.

How is the alarm system integrated into the circuit?

The alarm or buzzer is connected to the Arduino, which activates it when the detected pollution level exceeds a predefined threshold (for example, above 650).

What conditions are used in the code to classify air quality levels?

The code classifies air quality as 'Fresh Air' if the sensor value is less than 500, 'Poor Air' if between 500 and 600, and 'Very Poor Air' if greater than or equal to 650.

What does the LCD display during normal operation?

The LCD displays the label 'Air Quality' followed by the measured gas concentration value, and a message indicating whether the air is fresh, poor, or very poor.

What happens during the simulation when gas concentration increases?

As the simulated gas concentration increases, the LCD updates to show poorer air quality levels, and the alarm activates when the pollution becomes very high.

Why is there a delay introduced in the loop of the Arduino code?

A delay is included to allow the system to process and display each reading before updating again, providing stable and readable output on the LCD.

How are the LCD pins connected to the Arduino?

Several LCD pins are connected to Arduino ground pins, while others are connected to power and control pins for data transfer. One pin is also connected to the potentiometer for contrast adjustment.

What is the significance of using a breadboard in this project?

The breadboard allows for easy extension and organization of electrical connections among the Arduino, sensor, LCD, and other components without soldering.