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 24×7 monitoring for odour levels only.
Central Railway set an example for air quality management last year by installing 32 odour control sensors in the toilets of three Vande Bharat Express trains. These sensors monitor the air quality of the bathrooms and send alerts to the staff when the odour levels increase. This tunes the time intervals for the cleaning procedure and reduces the efforts of the staff for manual checking. Odour sensors also aid inventory control for cleaning products used. Most importantly, the comfort of the passengers is not compromised at any point.
Modernized high-speed, air-conditioned trains are sealed with hundreds of people sharing the space and facilities. Without advanced technology for air quality management, the health of passengers and staff would be put at risk.
Air Quality Problems in Trains
Odours in toilets: Most people have developed a fear of public bathrooms because of the conditions of such facilities. With hundreds of people using the bathrooms in the trains, the limited staff cannot possibly clean up after every usage. Even clean-looking bathrooms can emit a pungent smell. To solve the problem, IoT enabled sensors can be used to monitor the air quality and send automated alerts to the staff when the odour levels are up. This reduces the passenger discomfort and makes cleaning more efficient.
CO2 from people: Carbon dioxide exhaled in closed spaces for hours can slowly displace the oxygen in the air. This build-up of carbon dioxide can give us a feeling of being unwell- headaches, nausea and physical discomfort. Proper ventilation systems and circulation of oxygen-rich air is extremely important for the well-being of the people onboard.
VOCs from cleaning agents: The cleaning staff on trains are particular about surface cleaning. Chemicals like bleach and sanitizers used to disinfect surfaces are very strong and can exude Volatile Organic Compounds. These fumes merge into our breathable air and give us eye, nose, throat irritation, breathing problems and more. Monitoring and filtering the air keeps VOCs at a safe level.
Pathogens from sneezing, coughing: Past few years have taught us how coughing, sneezing or even breathing in shared public spaces increases our chances of contracting air-borne diseases. This makes air purification systems a must for AC trains to control the spread of viral or bacterial spores.
Clean Air Solutions
Poor air quality is often ignored as we do not see the pollutants in the indoor air. But the smaller the pollutant, the more dangerous it is to our health.
The first step towards clean air is air quality testing. Only data and analytics can help identify the pollutants invisible to the naked eye. Constant monitoring of air quality with IoT technology such as RESET certified sensors can spot the change in air quality every few minutes, alert the concerned teams and suggest action.
If the CO2 or odour levels rise, the staff will be alerted and the ventilation systems can be activated. If the pathogens or VOCs levels increase in the air, the staff will be notified and air purifier systems can be activated. However, if the systems stay active without monitoring, the change in air quality will not be recognized. In that case, if the ventilation or purifier technology malfunctions at any time, it will go unnoticed and the passengers and staff will be exposed to poor air quality throughout their journey.
Modern trains need modern solutions
Installing innovative technology like the odour sensors, shows that Central Railway is open to modern solutions for the wellness and comfort of their passengers. The technology has acted as a facelift for Vande Bharat Express and set a bar for clean air in trains.