The Property Management Office (PMCU) is aware of Bangkok’s atmosphere, which is covered with toxic dust and has entered a critical stage with PM2.5 readings that exceed world standards, set at 10 milligrams per cubic meter. For Thailand, the limit has been set at not more than 50 milligrams per cubic meter. PMCU has collaborated with the Environmental Sensor Network project to install air quality monitoring stations that is expected to help monitor the amount of dust in the air with surveillance and accuracy efficiency to assess the condition of toxic dust including assessing the health impacts of people in the area effectively.
It is to be implemented by installing a weather station (Environmental Sensor Network) which aims to measure the air quality and the environment shrouding the Bangkok metropolitan area. The installations have now expanded to the Chula Smart City area and is expected to help with the surveillance and impact assessment more accurately. In addition to the precise monitoring and evaluation, it can also be linked to the proper surveillance of public health impacts, enabling policymaking, to prevent and solve problems efficiently based on effective information. At the moment, the equipment has been installed in 2 main locations, consisting of a weather station in the Chulalongkorn Centennial Park vicinity, and Siam Square (sensor equipment).
The Chulalongkorn Centennial Park weather station can measure wind speed and direction, the amount of rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, and most importantly, the amount of dust particles in the air (PM1, PM2 .5, and PM10). All the equipment is powered by solar energy.
As for Siam Square, the sensor devices can be used to measure the temperature, relative humidity, the amount of dust particles in the air (PM1, PM2.5, and PM10) by using power from the local electricity grid and has an electricity consumption rate of 1.8 units per month per 1 installation point. The characteristics of the sensor network is a real-time air quality and environment monitoring network that is powered by solar cells.
The environment sensor network installations is expected to provide benefits to the local area by providing data on the quality of air which can help in planning for future improvements in the area. In addition, the information obtained can be used to further research and build a network on air quality, as well as, help in managing sustainable air quality for communities in the Samyan Smart City area.