Skip to main content
Bosch in Malaysia
Bosch integrated sensors for better understanding of air pollution

Project Blue Sky

Smog over Chiang Mai

Over the last decade, the beginning of the year has become increasingly difficult for the citizens of Chiang Mai. Forest fires, exhaust fumes, and seasonal waste burning result in a thick layer of smog covering the city every February. Could a coordinated community effort help bring attention to this problem?

From dust to disease

Thai woman potting plants.

Much of Chiang Mai’s air pollution are from crop burning to clear land for new plantation and the forest fire. The smoke and fumes choke the mountain valleys and causes hazy sky where the high level of haze particles impact human health.

“At present, collaborative measures are not enough. We need to create more understanding and be open-minded to the situation”, said Sureerat Treemanka, vice chairman of the Breath Council Chiang Mai.

The Blue Sky project brings Bosch AIOT expertise to support academia, public and private organizations, including the local community in battling the local air pollution

3.1 million people

Over 3.1 million people in Thailand were affected by asthma, stroke, lung cancer, and other diseases caused by air pollution in 2020.

Technology and nature - a harmonious solution

By combining smart sensor monitoring technology with a natural green shield concept allow for a better understanding of how green spaces improve air quality. In collaboration with Chiang Mai Breath Council and Chiang Mai University, the ambient air quality in Muensarn community and households with several kinds of pollutant-absorbing plants are continuously monitored, assessed pollution concentration levels through Bosch real-time monitoring system and small sensors installations.

Bosch air quality monitoring box

Bosch air quality monitoring box was installed to collect the pollutant data measurements in the Muensarn community, Chiang Mai. One device collects data from an area of 0.18 square kilometers.

Green Shield

A “green shield” refers to dust-absorbing plants in the volunteers’ households in the sandbox area. These plants have been proven to capture small particles and harmful volatile compounds present in the air.

DustBoy sensor dust detector

DustBoy, a sensor-based dust detector device developed by Chiang Mai University, measures the air quality in the households using the “green shield”. These devices work side by side with Bosch Air Quality Monitoring Box to compare the air quality data between the community area and volunteers’ houses.

Find out more: bluesky.cmuccdc.org

The Green Shield

The Green Shield project (Baan Soo Foon) by Chiang Mai Breath Council aims to use natural solutions against air pollution. Dust-absorbing plants were given to volunteers in Muensarn community as part of a research to test on plants ability in capturing small dust.

Spanish moss – absorbs dust with its hairy structure

Fern – cleans irritating gas in the air

Snake Plant – absorbs fine dust particles in the air

Philodendron – reduces air pollution with large leaves

Dust-absorbing plants are proven to capture from 10% to 90% of dust and pollutants present in the air.*

* Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Jan 2019

Plants hanging from the roof.
scientist

I want to see the next generation breathe in fresh air, have a good quality of life, and live long life.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somporn Chantara, Chiang Mai University

Air quality monitoring box

Bosch air quality monitoring box has a compact and lightweight design, which makes it easy to install and operate in either community or industrial areas. It contains a range of sensors including various gas and particle sensors and sensors for humidity, temperature, and pressure. The data is then uploaded to a cloud database for analysis to then help form an air quality map of the area. It brings us a complete vision of reality as well as predicts the trend of air change in the future.

Bosch air quality monitoring box mounted on a lamp post.

What sets it apart

Sensors

Intelligent Bosch sensors for pollutant data measurements for PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3, CO, and SO2, with a high level of accuracy and longer sensor lifetime.

Parameters

Environmental parameters: Temperature, Relative Humidity (RH) and Pressure.

Compact size and durability

Compact design built to withstand rugged weather conditions. Intelligent correction functions ensure robustness against typically disturbing variables such as temperature or humidity levels.

Stability

Better performance with an active sampling of ambient air. Real-time granular data can be collected with high temporal and spatial resolution.

Connectivity

Remote monitoring enabled with wireless data connectivity. Ease of access for users on mobile devices.

Scalability

Easy scalability of the monitoring network with a wide range of applications in commercial, residential, and industrial areas.

Sustainable Mobility for Better Air Quality

Transportation has become one of the main sources of urban air pollution. Local measurement data from Bosch air quality monitoring box offers a picture of traffic pollution levels and helps further asses the emission sources and dispersion, and aids the understanding of how concentrations change at various locations during the day. Bosch extends our automotive expertise beyond the car, integrating air quality to sustainable mobility planning.

Our core strength shapes a sustainable future of mobility. As the e-vehicle phenomenon begins to take shape in Southeast Asia, Bosch is accelerating electrification with efficient and economical solutions for both two- and four-wheelers. Here’s how we can bring blue skies back for future generations.

Eco-friendly car

Our partners

partner-logos