Muscat -The National Energy Centre (NEC) launched a smart environment device project to track harmful and toxic gases.
The device was launched under the auspices of Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaithani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, as part of the Oman Sustainability Week.
The device tracks harmful, toxic gases that create an unhealthy environment, through instantaneous readings detected by the device’s sensors and measuring wind speed and direction.
It also provides an overview of the air quality index in real time by giving daily information about the extent of the cleanliness or pollution of the air and the potential causes of negative health effects that a person may suffer during the few hours or days after inhaling polluted air.
The calculations are based on measurements of the five main pollutants namely nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, ground ozone, sulfur dioxide and particulates with a diameter of less than 10 microns and 2.5 microns.
The device also helps to maintain the cleanliness of the surrounding air within the required standards, which may be highly polluted as a result of human activities, and emissions resulting from the combustion of fuels to get energy and water, as well as transportation and industrial activities.
The project was launched within the context of the memorandum of cooperation between the NEC and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. It aims to develop smart city technologies by adopting and applying modern technologies and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, as well as benefiting from the technical expertise of the NEC in the field of IoT, initiatives and consultations related to smart city projects.
The launch, installation and operation of this project aims to provide a technical platform for monitoring the surrounding atmosphere in the Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) and Madinat Al Irfan in Muscat.