About This Project
The Ireland Air Quality Network is an innovative environmental monitoring initiative that leverages LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology to create a comprehensive, off-grid data collection network for measuring air quality across all of Ireland.
What is LoRaWAN?
LoRaWAN is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) protocol designed for wireless communication over long distances with minimal power consumption. It's ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications that need to transmit small amounts of data over large geographic areas.
Key Benefits of LoRaWAN for Air Quality Monitoring
- Long Range: Sensors can communicate up to 10-15 km in rural areas and 2-5 km in urban environments
- Low Power: Battery-powered sensors can operate for years without replacement
- No Internet Required: Data is transmitted directly to gateways without needing WiFi or cellular connections
- Cost Effective: Minimal infrastructure costs compared to traditional cellular IoT solutions
- Penetration: Excellent signal penetration through buildings and vegetation
How It Works
Our network consists of three main components:
1. Sensor Nodes
Battery-powered air quality sensors deployed across Ireland measure pollutants including PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, and other key air quality indicators.
2. LoRaWAN Gateways
Strategically positioned gateways receive data from sensor nodes within their range and forward it to the network server.
3. Network Server
Processes incoming sensor data, stores measurements, and makes the information available through this web interface.
Coverage and Impact
By utilizing LoRaWAN technology, we can deploy air quality sensors in:
- Remote rural communities without broadband access
- National parks and protected natural areas
- Agricultural regions for monitoring farming impacts
- Coastal areas and islands
- Mountain ranges and wilderness areas
- Urban areas as supplementary monitoring
This comprehensive coverage provides researchers, policy makers, and citizens with unprecedented insight into air quality patterns across the entire island of Ireland, including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Technical Specifications
LoRaWAN Network Details
- Frequency: EU868 MHz band (863-870 MHz)
- Data Rate: 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps (adaptive)
- Message Size: Up to 243 bytes per transmission
- Security: AES-128 encryption end-to-end
- Topology: Star-of-stars network architecture
Sensor Update Frequency
- Standard monitoring: Every 15 minutes
- High-priority areas: Every 5 minutes
- Battery optimization mode: Hourly updates
Environmental Benefits
Beyond the technical advantages, our off-grid approach provides significant environmental benefits:
- Minimal infrastructure impact on natural landscapes
- Low energy consumption reduces carbon footprint
- Solar-powered gateways in remote locations
- Long sensor lifespan reduces electronic waste
- Enables monitoring in ecologically sensitive areas without disruption
Data Integration
While our sensor network operates independently, we also integrate data from existing air quality monitoring systems:
- Ireland: Data from airquality.ie
- Northern Ireland: Data from uk-air.defra.gov.uk
This hybrid approach combines official monitoring stations with our extensive LoRaWAN sensor network to provide the most comprehensive air quality picture possible.