Page 45 - CIJ JAN 2024 - Digital Edition

Special RepoRt

Sensors to Monitor Train Indoor Air

ActiveBuildings has designed air monitoring sensors keeping in mind
the safety, privacy and ease of the passengers in the Indian Railways.
The source model can measure CO2, VOC, PM2.5, PM10, humidity and
up to 15 other parameters. But these RESET certified, AI-enabled sensors
have been recalibrated to meet the requirements of the railways team
and provide 24x7 monitoring for odour levels only.

entral Railway set an automated alerts to the staff when the indoor air. But the smaller the
example for air quality the odour levels are up. This pollutant, the more dangerous it is
management last year reduces the passenger discomfort to our health.
by installing 32 odour and makes cleaning more efficient. The first step towards clean air
Ccontrol sensors in the CO2 from people: Carbon is air quality testing. Only data
toilets of three Vande Bharat dioxide exhaled in closed spaces and analytics can help identify the
Express trains. These sensors for hours can slowly displace the pollutants invisible to the naked
monitor the air quality of the oxygen in the air. This build-up of eye. Constant monitoring of air
bathrooms and send alerts to carbon dioxide can give us a feeling quality with IoT technology such as
the staff when the odour levels of being unwell- headaches, nausea RESET certified sensors can spot
increase. This tunes the time and physical discomfort. Proper the change in air quality every few
intervals for the cleaning procedure ventilation systems and circulation minutes, alert the concerned teams
and reduces the efforts of the and suggest action.
staff for manual checking. Odour of oxygen-rich air is extremely
sensors also aid inventory control important for the well-being of the If the CO2 or odour levels
for cleaning products used. Most people onboard. rise, the staff will be alerted and
importantly, the comfort of the VOCs from cleaning agents: the ventilation systems can be
passengers is not compromised at The cleaning staff on trains are activated. If the pathogens or
any point. particular about surface cleaning. VOCs levels increase in the air,

Modernized high-speed, air- Chemicals like bleach and the staff will be notified and air
conditioned trains are sealed sanitizers used to disinfect surfaces purifier systems can be activated.
with hundreds of people sharing are very strong and can exude However, if the systems stay active
the space and facilities. Without Volatile Organic Compounds. These without monitoring, the change in
advanced technology for air quality fumes merge into our breathable air quality will not be recognized.
management, the health of passengers air and give us eye, nose, throat In that case, if the ventilation or
and staff would be put at risk. irritation, breathing problems and purifier technology malfunctions
more. Monitoring and filtering the at any time, it will go unnoticed
Air Quality Problems air keeps VOCs at a safe level. and the passengers and staff will
be exposed to poor air quality
Pathogens from sneezing,
in Trains coughing: Past few years have throughout their journey.
Odours in toilets: Most people taught us how coughing, sneezing
have developed a fear of public or even breathing in shared public Modern trains need
bathrooms because of the spaces increases our chances of modern solutions
conditions of such facilities. With contracting air-borne diseases. This
hundreds of people using the makes air purification systems a Installing innovative technology
bathrooms in the trains, the limited must for AC trains to control the like the odour sensors, shows that
staff cannot possibly clean up after spread of viral or bacterial spores. Central Railway is open to modern
every usage. Even clean-looking solutions for the wellness and
bathrooms can emit a pungent Clean Air Solutions comfort of their passengers. The
smell. To solve the problem, IoT technology has acted as a facelift
enabled sensors can be used to Poor air quality is often ignored for Vande Bharat Express and set a
monitor the air quality and send as we do not see the pollutants in bar for clean air in trains. CIJ

Clean India Journal•JANUARY 2024 45
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