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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
DOI: 10.2507/29th.daaam.proceedings.126
NEW APPROACH OF MEASURING TOXIC GASES
CONCENTRATIONS: APPLICATION EXAMPLES
Dzevad Bibic, Boran Pikula, Adnan Masic & Faruk Razic
This Publication has to be referred as: Bibic, D[zevad]; Pikula, B[oran]; Masic, A[dnan] & Razic, F[aruk] (2018). New
Approach of Measuring Toxic Gases Concentrations: Application Examples, Proceedings of the 29th DAAAM
International Symposium, pp.0876-0881, B. Katalinic (Ed.), Published by DAAAM International, ISBN 978-3-902734-
20-4, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria
DOI: 10.2507/29th.daaam.proceedings.126
Abstract
Low-cost electrochemical sensors and in-house developed data acquisition system are used in two experiments, which
reflect real-life scenarios of air pollution. Primary aim of this research is evaluation of the new approach for measuring
the concentrations of toxic gases in realistic, everyday situations. These experiments include: continuous diurnal
monitoring of toxic gases concentrations in public underground garage and mobile measurements of toxic gases
concentrations on urban streets in real time using the motorbike as sensors’ carrier.
Keywords: air pollution; electrochemical sensor; diurnal profile; mobile measurements
1. Introduction
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.2 million people die every year due to the ambient air pollution
and 3.8 million more as a result of household exposure to smoke from dirty cookstoves and fuels, while 91% of the
world’s population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits [1]. Furthermore, according to data
available in [2], about 400,000 people die only in Europe although air quality standards have been defined 20 years ago.
An important step towards the solution of the problem of air pollution is monitoring of the concentrations of toxic gases
in the air. However, vast majority of the population affected by the excessive air pollution live in developing countries
[3]. Hence, affordable and reliable methods for monitoring of toxic gases are urgently needed. A very promising approach
is to use commodity electrochemical sensors [4], recently developed by Alphasense Ltd (UK).
The basic principles of the electrochemical sensors of Alphasense Ltd (UK) are presented in [5]. Having in mind that
the low-cost sensors have small dimensions, a compact housing is designed where several of these sensors are located.
This enables measurement of some of the characteristic emissions of polluting components in the air. Besides the
measurements at various stationary locations (road intersections, parks, underground garages, workshops, factories, etc.),
it is possible to make measurements of air pollutants during vehicle motion (car, motorcycle, bicycle, etc.) in realistic
traffic conditions. The authors of this paper have already performed measurements of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10
concentrations in the air during drive of the vehicle on urban traffic roads, as it shown in the [6].
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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Therefore, this paper aims to present the possibilities of using the electrochemical sensors under different conditions,
such as continuous diurnal monitoring of toxic gases concentrations in public underground garage and mobile
measurements of toxic gases concentrations on urban streets in real time.
2. Examples of application in realistic conditions
As mentioned above, the several different Alphasense sensors are located in the compact housing of their own air
quality measurement device: SO2-B4 range sensor (0-100) ppm, sensor CO-A4 range (0-500) ppm, sensor NO-A4 range
(0-20) ppm, NO2-A4 range sensor (0-20) ppm and OX-A4 sensor, range (0-20) ppm. In order to demonstrate the
application possibilities, two characteristic examples of air quality measurements were selected using the following
sensors:
a) Enclosed within a single shopping centre with underground garage, at the location of the vehicle's technical
inspection station and
b) In the realistic conditions of motorcycle movement with all crowds and traffic flows in the urban environment.
2.1. Stationary measurement of air quality in an underground garage
The stationary measurement of air quality in the underground closed garage was carried out at one shopping centre at
the location of the vehicle's technical inspection station. The same technical inspection station, along with the car wash,
is located at the very end of the building of the shopping centre where there is no large traffic of the vehicles. The working
hours of the vehicle's technical inspection station are from 08.00 to 17.00, which means that the station is closed from
17.00 to 08.00 hours by two sliding doors. Within the same location of the technical inspection station of the vehicle there
is also a ventilation system that plays a significant role in the non-working hours as will be seen on the results shown
below. The view on the vehicle technical inspection station, as well as the position of the device with the specified
Alphasense sensors, are shown in the Figure 1.
Fig. 1. The vehicle technical inspection station in the underground garage with a device for air quality measurements
The Air Quality Measurement Device with the specified sensors by Alphasense is positioned at the middle of the
vehicle's technical inspection station, next to the MAHA Exhaust Gas Analyser. The device was set on September 18,
2018 afternoon in order to reach the working temperature and be ready for measurement at the beginning of the next
working day. The official measurements were performed on September 19 and 20, 2018, which resulted obtaining of very
interesting results.
Due to the scope of the results, only some characteristic results relating to the minute and hourly averages of certain
emissions will be shown in this paper. The Figure 2 shows the minute averages of CO and NO2 emissions, while the
hourly average for NO2 emission is given in the Figure 3 in order to compare it with the limit values prescribed by the
regulation in Bosnia and Herzegovina [7]. If we compare the minute and hour averages shown in the Figure 2 and the
Figure 3, it can be concluded that they generally have very similar trends. Only minute averages show significant current
results increasing due to a very short period of a vehicle being tested at a technical inspection station or on a moving
vehicle near the technical inspection station. It can be seen that the minute average values of current NO2 emissions are
almost 10 times higher than the NO2 hourly emission.
Based on the results shown in the Figure 3, it can be seen that, due to the non-working hours during night and the
insulated closed space of the vehicle's technical inspection, as well as the operation of the ventilation system, there are
the significant reduction in the hourly average of the NO2 emission. During the working hour and the openness of the
space in which a motor vehicle inspection is performed, as well as the presence of vehicles near to the station, the hourly
averages of the NO2 emissions are increased. It leads to the fact that after 12 hours of workday, this emission exceeds the
permitted hourly limit defined [7].
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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Fig. 2. Minute averages of CO and NO2 emissions during two-day measurement in the garage area of the shopping
centre
Fig. 3. NO2 emission hourly average during two-day measurement in the garage area of the shopping centre
Fig. 4. Hourly averages of NO2 emission and PM10 particle emissions during two-day measurement in the underground
garage area of the shopping centre
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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Since the device is simultaneously equipped with PM particle sensors, it is easy to point to the connection between
NO2 and particulate emission (PM10). The characteristic NO2 emission and particles in the form of hourly averages are
shown in the Figure 4, which shows a very good consistency. Within the previous example, only one device was used
and accordingly it was present to only one micro location. By using and installing multiple devices of this type on
connected micro locations, it is possible to establish a complete map of an open or closed area [4]. Benefits from such
collected results data can be multiple. On the one hand, it would be possible to identify the most vulnerable zones, on the
other hand, to establish the source of such an air pollution status.
2.2. Mobile Air Quality Measurement in Urban Traffic Areas
To capture live pollution data from urban traffic it’s necessary to attach the measuring device to a vehicle that’s
capable to follow the traffic flow, and simultaneously offers an adequate mounting space. In previous measurements, to
avoid pollutant data collecting from the device carrier an electrical vehicle was used [8]. In the presented scenario of
vehicle motion this vehicle would not be a good choice because of its limited range, dimensions and manoeuvrability.
That for mobile air quality measurement on urban traffic ways was carried out during the movement of the motorcycle
by BMW, type C650 Sport. This motorcycle was chosen due to the fact that it is a "maxi scooter" and it is suitable for
placing a bag in the free space between the steering handlebar and the driver's seat, where the mentioned device has been
placed. This reduces the potential impact of the wind in the form of turbulent air flow to the device itself. Setting up the
measuring device for performing mobile air quality measurements is shown in the Figure 5.
In the Figure 5, the Racelogic VBox Sport device is also located and set up, which allows to record the speed of a
motorcycle by using a GPS technology with a 20 Hz operating frequency. While the Racelogic VBox Sport has its own
power supply, the power supply of the air quality measurement device is done with a battery and a USB connector.
Fig. 5. The air quality measuring device mounted on a motorcycle for mobile measurements
Driving a motorcycle with the task of measuring the air quality was done in the early evening hours of a sunny day at
the end of August 2018 for more than 2 hours. At this point, with an average speed of less than 30 km/h, it was achieved
about 60 km a long trip to go through the typical roads in the urban environment. This involved driving the main road in
both directions, with a larger number of vehicles, of course at a higher speed. In the same time, driving through the
transversal streets lower speeds are achieved. It is very important to notice, the air temperature during the movement on
the mentioned section was (21-24) °C, thus meeting Alphasense's recommendations for using the aforementioned sensors.
The CO and NO2 emissions results, spatially within the urban environment in which the motion of the motorcycle is
achieved, are shown in the Figures 6 and 7. The Figure 6 shows the CO emission in the range (225-1000) g/m3 achieved
when the motorcycle is moving through the urban environment. By analysing the results shown in the Figure 6, it can be
concluded that the largest CO emissions are measured at the main road where the largest number of vehicles is located,
moving at a relatively high speed. In the urban environment where secondary roads are located, which characterize the
movement of a smaller number of vehicles at a relatively lower speed, there is a lower level of CO emission. A similar
conclusion can also be made in the case of NO2 emission in the range (50-200) g/m3 as shown in the Figure 7.
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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
Fig. 6. CO emission during mobile metering in the urban environment
Fig. 7. NO2 emission during mobile metering in the urban environment
Through these two different examples (stationary and mobile case application of the device) it has been shown that
the optimal design and functionality of the device with all the associated sensors can be made by each user, so in our case
a choice of electrochemical sensors for measuring emissions of polluting components and sensors for particle
measurement were done.
3. Conclusion
For the purpose of stationary and mobile metering of air pollutants, the own designed device was developed which,
by using Alphasense's low-cost sensor, allows air quality measurements. This work encompasses two characteristic
measurements: the space in a closed underground garage, in addition to the vehicle's technical inspection station, and
mobile metering in the urban environment thanks to the motion of the motorcycle. Both examples have shown the
capability and performance of these sensors to define air quality. In this way, the possibilities of defining the air quality
at each location from school classrooms, workplaces in factories, offices, restaurants, underground garages etc. are
opened. Having in mind the great potential and flexibility of these sensors, and expecting their further development, every
single person or firm can design own device with optimum application possibilities.
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29TH DAAAM INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLIGENT MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
4. References
[1] http://www.who.int/airpollution/en/, (2018). World Health Organization, Accessed on: 2018-09-23
[2] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/09/europe-s-dirty-air-kills-400-000-people-every-year/
[3] Kumar, R. (2018). Five steps to improve air-quality forecasts. Nature, 561 (2018) 27-29
[4] Mead, M. I.; Popoola, O. A. M.; Stewart, G. B.; Landshoff, P.; Calleja, M.; Hayes, M.; Baldovi, J. J.; McLeod M.
W.; Hodgson T. F.; Dicks J.; Lewis A.; Cohen J.; Baron R.; Saffell J. R. & Jones, R. L. (2013). The use of
electrochemical sensors for monitoring urban air quality in low-cost, high-density networks. Atmospheric
Environment, 70 (2013) 186-203
[5] Masic, A.; Bibic, Dz.; Pikula, B.; Razic, F.: New Approach of Measuring Toxic Gases Concentrations: Principle of
Operation; (2018) Proceedings of the 29th DAAAM International Symposium pp.xxx-xxx, B. Katalinic (Ed.),
Published by DAAAM International, ISBN 978-3-902734-11-2, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria, DOI:
10.2507/29th.daaam.proceedings.xxx, in press
[6] Masic, A.; Pikula, B. & Bibic, Dz. (2017). Mobile Measurements of Particulate Matter Concentrations in Urban
Area, Proceedings of the 28th DAAAM International Symposium, pp.0452-0456, B. Katalinic (Ed.), Published by
DAAAM International, ISBN 978-3-902734-11-2, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria, DOI:
10.2507/28th.daaam.proceedings.063
[7] Pravilnik o nacinu vrsenja monitoringa kvaliteta zraka i definiranju vrsta zagadjujucih materija, granicnih vrijednosti
i drugih standarda kvaliteta zraka, (2012) Sluzbene novine Federacije BiH br. 1/12
[8] Masic, A.; Pikula, B. & Bibic, Dz. (2017) Dynamic Characteristics of the Electrical Vehicle, Proceedings of the 28th
DAAAM International Symposium, pp.0446-0451, B. Katalinic (Ed.), Published by DAAAM International, ISBN
978-3-902734-11-2, ISSN 1726-9679, Vienna, Austria, DOI: 10.2507/28th.daaam.proceedings.062
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