IoT Cloud Platforms☁

🔘Several previous posts have mentioned the 🔗Ubidots and 🔗Thingspeak IoT cloud ☁ platforms, conveniently accessed from a web-browser, that have been used with some of our sensor based projects to capture, visualise and analyse 💹 the sensor measurements. Two others, 'Arduino IoT Cloud' and 'Thingsboard', have been found and tried out in conjunction with the PMS5003 Particle Concentration Sensor; ( see 8 April & 16 June ). Setting up was quick and straightforward, following the typical process for such platforms of creating an IoT 'thing', assigning 'variables', associating a 'device', programming & connecting the device, & designing a 'dashboard'; our device is a "D1 Mini Esp32" micro-controller board.

The 🔗Arduino IoT Cloud is an entirely cloud based platform, including an editor for writing and compiling the project firmware, which can then be downloaded from the cloud ( depending on the subscription plan ) to the device, from anywhere in the world 🌐. Nothing is required to be installed locally on a pc 💻or connected to it other than a browser and internet connection. The dashboard shown in the image below is constrained by a maximum of  5 cloud variables under the no-time-limit free 🆓 plan. In general, the widgets to populate the dashboard tend to be the standard, classic ones.

Example of Arduino IoT Cloud dashboard - desktop version

An App "Arduino IoT Remote" on a mobile device 📱provides a mobile friendly version of the dashboard.

An account was opened for the 30 day free trial period of the 🔗Thingsboard cloud 'Maker' version. There is a large selection of attractive widgets for the dashboard, sorted by various categories. For example, under the "Air 🜁 Quality"  category there are numerous widget designs specifically for the measurement data relevant to air-quality. Some were chosen for the dashboard shown in the image below

Example of a Thingsboard dashboard

🌀IoT = Internet of Things.      

PMS5003, colour display, BluetoothⓇ & cloud

🔘The project involving the 🪴Plantower 🗼PMS5003 digital Particle Concentration Sensor, described in the previous post on 8 April, has progressed further with the addition of embedded firmware using an  ESP32 microcontroller development board, a colour display, and BluetoothⓇ or Wi-Fi options.

The display is a colour TFT touch sensitive display with resolution 240 x 320 pixels, ( see image below ), last used on 5 January 2023.

Version with display using prototyping board 

Particle number per 0.1 litre ( ppdl ) of air and density ( ug/m^3 ) for various particle diameters Ø in microns are displayed. The "Air Quality Index  - AQI" ( 0 to 500 ) is derived from the PM2.5 density figure.  The "Quality" label which is assigned ( GOOD, MODERATE etc ) depends on the AQI. This is the method in common use internationally to quantify air pollution 😷 due to particulates. The touch-sensitive 'buttons' near the lower edge of the display give full control of the various modes of operation of the PMS5003. Some modes are initiated by sending instructions to the PMS5003 by serial data, and some are hardwired.

The ESP32 has a built-in BluetoothⓇ Low Energy, ( BLE ), module. The particulate matter data and mode functions as described above are available using the BluetoothⓇ version and the SpacerLabs custom Android App, "SpacerLabs PMD_Viewer vn.nn", on a compatible mobile device 📱having BluetoothⓇ enabled.

App user interface opened

Ubidots is a cloud hosted repository for measurement data. It was featured in this blog before, on 29 February,  then being used with the AQM device. The ESP32 also has a built-in Wi-Fi module. So a version of the firmware including Wi-Fi functionality was written, enabling the PMS5003 measurement data to be uploaded to the cloud.

PMS5003 Ubidots dashboard - ( click to enlarge )

An 'Air Quality' device, i.e., the Plantower PMS5003 Particulate Matter Sensor', has been added to our Ubidots dashboard together with several new widgets for displaying the particle measurements. A similar exercise was carried out with Thingspeak cloud; see also 18 February 2024. Search for channels by user ID spacerlabs to see the result.

The serial communications interface ( see 8 April 2024 ) is still retained, and is a common feature of all versions. 

PM2.5 data from AQM now on the cloud

🔘Particulate Matter ㏘, PM2.5, data can now be uploaded 🖧 to the Ubidots cloud  ☁ from the Air Quality Monitor ( AQM ); see 15.03.2023. The Ubidots Ů platform provides visualisation / analysis of data from IoT sensors, also generating events, alerts, actions etc if required. We are already using this platform in conjunction with the Greenhouse Gas Monitoring system ( see 28.07.2022 ) and a soil moisture meter. On this occasion, with the AQM,  Node-Red is being used for alerts⏰.Two new widgets to display the PM2.5 concentration value have been added to an existing SpacerLabs Ubidots dashboard. The colours used for the air-quality levels ( good, OK, poor ) on the gauge widget match those used on the coloured LED indicator on the front of the AQM. 

Part of the dashboard showing the new widgets for PM2.5

Using the Node-Red 🟥 application, function 'nodes' are linked by connecting inputs to outputs and on-line services to create a 'flow' to perform task(s) using a browser based workspace. We have used it previously with the UVRM ( see 23.03.2023 ) and a soil moisture meter. The AQM flow ( image below ) starts by subscribing to the AQM PM2.5 data on Ubidots cloud using MQTT ( blue node ) and ends by triggering an email 📧 to be sent when the PM2.5 level exceeds 85 ug/m3; classified as level 'high' and air 🜁 quality 'poor'.

Node-Red 'flow' to trigger an email warning of poor air quality

It can be seen under the 'Debug' tab that an email 📧is indeed sent when PM2.5 >85; otherwise only the value ( if changed ) is reported. The email topic reads "SpacerLabs AQM - PM2.5 Alert " and the message reads "The SpacerLabs AQM has measured a PM2.5 level >85 (High) Air-Quality category - Poor. (Timestamp)". Even though the AQM may not be visible, an immediate audible notification is given by a smart phone when the email is received. 🔲

PM2.5 = Particulate Matter size 2.5 micron

MQTT = Message Queued Telemetry Transport

IoT = Internet of Things

Greenhouse Gas Monitoring System

Methane, CH4, and Carbon Dioxide, CO2, are two prominent "greenhouse" gases which have an impact on global warming.

A Methane sensor, type MQ-4, and a Carbon Dioxide sensor, type MQ-135, together with an ESP32 microcontroller are being used to measure the concentration ( in parts per million/billion ppm/ppb ) of these gases in the atmosphere. Measurements are sent every 15 minutes to cloud hosted repositories, ( "thingspeak.com" and "ubidots.com" ), for display and analysis.

Prototype system during development, left MQ-4, right MQ-135

Only the sensors are deployed outdoors, in a protective enclosure. The microcontroller is situated indoors for reliable WiFi connectivity and convenience when uploading the software.

Sensors deployed outdoors

A channel having public access is available for viewing the data on ThingSpeak. Search for channels belonging to user ID "spacerlabs". Select "Greenhouse Gas Monitor".

Or use this link to view the data on the Ubidots cloud: https://stem.ubidots.com/app/dashboards/public/widget/shcI08ZiIypoF46IbKr_3obmWpSM6lD2iIBIlLcagoI