Development of a Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring System

Using the MQ2 Sensor

Deepanshi Saxena*1, Mahak Jain 2, Mansi Singh Parihar3 , Harshit singh4, Dr. Monika Kapoor5
1-4
Student, Department of Electronics and Communication, Laksmi Narain College of Technology, Shyamala Hills,
Bhopal
5
Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication, Laksmi Narain College of Technology, Shyamala Hill,
Bhopal

Corresponding Author- [email protected]

ABSTRACT: Air pollution is becoming a major environmental problem, especially in cities, due to the quick expansion of
industry and the rise in car emissions. The air is contaminated with dangerous chemicals such as carbon monoxide,
nitrogen oxides, and fine particles, which have a major negative influence on human health by raising the risk of heart and
respiratory diseases. Because of their dense populations and heavy traffic, urban areas are particularly affected by this
problem. Air pollution also contributes significantly to acid rain, climate change acceleration, and ecological damage.
Stricter pollution control regulations, the adoption of cleaner technologies, better public transportation, and more
environmental awareness are all necessary to meet this problem. Real-time monitoring of air quality is essential to assess
pollution levels and take preventive measures. This study suggests an Internet of Things (IoT)-based air quality monitoring
system that uses a MQ2 gas sensor and a NodeMCU microcontroller to identify dangerous gases. Through linked devices,
the system gathers real-time data that allows users to effectively monitor environmental conditions, encouraging awareness
and proactive pollution management. To facilitate remote access and analysis, the system tracks the quality of the air,
displays data in real time on an LCD screen, and uploads it to an Internet of Things platform. This makes it possible to
monitor the environment continuously and raise awareness of air pollution levels. The proposed system offers a cost-
effective, real-time, and scalable solution for environmental monitoring applications by measuring the accurate presence
of harmful gases including Carbon Monoxide(CO), Methane (CH4), Liquified Petroleum gas and particulate matter.

Keywords: IoT, Air Quality Monitoring, Node MCU, MQ2 Sensor, Pollution, LCD Display, Blynk.

1. INTRODUCTION
Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges in the modern world, significantly
impacting public health, climate, and ecosystems. The rapid growth of industrialization, urbanization,
and vehicular emissions has led to an alarming increase in pollutants in the atmosphere, particularly in
densely populated regions. These pollutants include harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO),
methane (CH4), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and particulate matter, which pose serious risks to
human health, especially for individuals with respiratory conditions.
Conventional air quality monitoring systems deployed by government agencies are typically
expensive, stationary, and cover limited areas. They often involve complex infrastructure and are not
accessible for local or personal use. Moreover, the lack of real-time data availability restricts timely
decision-making and preventive measures[6-7].
To address these limitations, advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) have enabled the
development of compact, cost-effective, and real-time environmental monitoring systems. IoT-based
solutions integrate sensors, microcontrollers, and wireless communication modules to gather, analyse,
and transmit environmental data to the cloud for remote monitoring and analysis.
This paper presents the design and development of an IoT-based air quality monitoring system utilizing
a Node MCU ESP8266 microcontroller and an MQ2 gas sensor. The MQ2 sensor can detect a variety
of gases, including smoke, methane, butane, and LPG. The system captures air quality data, displays
it on a 16x2 LCD screen, and transmits it to the Blynk IoT platform via Wi-Fi for real-time remote
access using a smartphone. The overall system is portable, user-friendly, and affordable, making it
ideal for educational, domestic, and small-scale industrial applications [8-10].
2. OBJECTIVES
The primary aim of this project is to develop a smart and cost-effective air quality monitoring system
using IoT technology. The specific objectives are:
a. To design and implement a real-time air quality monitoring system that can detect
the presence and concentration of harmful gases using the MQ2 sensor.
b. To utilize the Node MCU ESP8266 microcontroller for processing sensor data and
enabling wireless data transmission over the internet.
c. To display air quality data locally using a 16x2 LCD screen, providing users with
instant visual feedback.
d. To integrate the system with the Blynk IoT platform for remote access and monitoring
of air quality data through a smartphone application.
e. To ensure low power consumption and cost-effectiveness, making the system suitable
for widespread use in homes, schools, offices, and small industries.
f. To provide a scalable and modular framework that can be enhanced in the future with
additional sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, PM2.5) or extended to a network of
monitoring nodes.

3. LITERATURE REVIEW

In recent years, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to the development of various
smart air quality monitoring systems. Conventional air pollution monitoring stations, although
accurate, are costly, stationary, and have limited spatial coverage. This has encouraged researchers to
explore low-cost, scalable alternatives utilizing embedded systems and wireless connectivity.

• Pal P et al. [1] proposed an Arduino-based air quality monitoring system employing the
MQ135 sensor and GSM module for data communication. While their system provided reliable
results, the recurring cost of mobile network usage posed limitations for continuous monitoring.
• Arroyo P et al. [2] designed a wireless sensor network based on ZigBee modules to collect
pollution data. Their system demonstrated energy efficiency but lacked sufficient data transfer
speed and cloud integration capabilities.
• Karuppusamy P [3] developed an IoT-based environmental monitoring system using Node
MCU along with multiple sensors for temperature, humidity, and CO₂ detection. They utilized
the Blynk IoT platform to visualize real-time data on smartphones. Although their design
achieved effective cloud-based monitoring, the use of multiple sensors increased the hardware
complexity and cost.
• Marques R et al. [4] , the MQ2 sensor, when integrated with microcontrollers like Arduino or
Node MCU, serves as a practical tool for general indoor air quality detection. The MQ2 gas
sensor has gained popularity in similar applications due to its sensitivity to gases like methane,
LPG, smoke, and hydrogen. It has been widely used in cost-sensitive applications where
qualitative gas detection is sufficient.

Building upon these works, the proposed system in this paper leverages the MQ2 sensor and Node
MCU ESP8266 module to design a simplified, low-cost, and Wi-Fi-enabled air pollution monitoring
solution. Unlike previous multi-sensor systems, this implementation emphasizes cost-effectiveness
and user-friendliness, offering both local display through an LCD and remote access via the Blynk IoT
platform.
COMPONENT REQUIRED
The proposed air quality monitoring system incorporates several electronic and IoT components to
achieve accurate gas detection and real-time data communication.
The following are the primary components used:

1. Node MCU ESP8266

The Node MCU is an open-source development board based on the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module.
It features a 32-bit Tensilica L106 microcontroller with integrated Wi-Fi capabilities, making
it ideal for IoT applications. It serves as the central controller, acquiring data from sensors
and transmitting it to the cloud via Wi-Fi.
2. MQ2 Gas Sensor
The MQ2 is a semiconductor-type gas sensor that can detect combustible gases such as
methane (CH₄), butane (C₄H₁₀), LPG, smoke, and hydrogen (H₂). It provides both analog and
digital output, where the analog pin is used to measure the gas concentration levels in the
environment. It is selected for its low cost, high sensitivity, and reliability in indoor
applications.
3. 16×2 Alphanumeric LCD Display
A 16×2 LCD module is used for local display of the sensor data. It displays real-time gas
concentration levels, enabling the user to monitor air quality instantly without the need for
external devices. The LCD operates at 5V and communicates with the microcontroller
through parallel or I²C communication.
4. I²C LCD Adapter Module
To minimize the number of GPIO pins used, an I²C module is interfaced with the LCD. This
adapter allows communication over only two lines (SDA and SCL), conserving
microcontroller resources and simplifying the circuit wiring.
5. Breadboard and Jumper Wires
A standard solderless breadboard is used for circuit prototyping, allowing easy testing and
modification of the design. Jumper wires are employed to make temporary connections
between components during development and testing.
6. Micro-USB Cable
The micro-USB cable is used to connect the Node MCU to a computer for programming and
debugging. It also serves as a power source during the initial setup.
7. 5V Power Supply Module
A regulated 5V power supply or battery pack is used to provide power to the system during
standalone operation. It ensures stable voltage and uninterrupted functioning of all connected
modules.
8. Smartphone with Blynk Application
A smartphone with the Blynk app installed is used for remote monitoring. The app
communicates with the Node MCU through the Blynk IoT platform, enabling real-time
visualization of air quality data on a graphical user interface.

4. METHODOLOGY
The proposed air quality monitoring system is designed using a modular approach, integrating sensing,
processing, and communication functionalities to ensure efficient gas detection and real-time
monitoring. The methodology adopted for the development and implementation of this system is
outlined below (figure 1):

Figure 1. Block diagram of air quality monitoring system

A. System Design
The core components of the system include the MQ2 gas sensor, Node MCU ESP8266
microcontroller, 16×2 LCD (with I²C interface), and the Blynk IoT platform. The system
architecture is designed to be compact and cost-effective, suitable for both stationary and
portable air quality monitoring applications.

B. Sensor Calibration and Integration

The MQ2 sensor is initially tested and calibrated to detect combustible gases such as methane,
butane, LPG, and smoke. The analog output of the sensor provides a voltage proportional to
the gas concentration. This signal is read by the Node MCU's ADC (Analog-to-Digital
Converter) pin. Basic calibration is performed to define threshold levels for "safe," "moderate,"
and "hazardous" air quality conditions, based on sensor output values.

C. Microcontroller Programming
The Node MCU ESP8266 is programmed using the Arduino IDE. The firmware includes:
• Reading analog data from the MQ2 sensor.
• Processing and converting it into readable gas levels.
• Displaying the processed data on the 16×2 LCD screen via the I²C interface.
• Sending real-time data to the Blynk cloud server using the onboard Wi-Fi capabilities.
D. Data Display and Communication
The system displays gas concentration values locally on the LCD for immediate visibility.
Simultaneously, it connects to a Wi-Fi network and communicates with the Blynk IoT platform
using HTTP/MQTT protocols. The Blynk app is configured with virtual widgets (gauges,
graphs) to visualize the data on a smartphone in real time.
 E. Power Supply and Deployment
During testing, the system is powered via USB. For field use, a regulated 5V power source or
a battery pack is connected. The compact form factor of the system allows it to be placed
indoors near kitchens, parking areas, or industrial equipment where gas leaks or pollution are
likely.

Figure 2. System implementation

F. Testing and Validation

The system is tested in various indoor environments with different gas concentrations (e.g.,
near an LPG stove, incense stick smoke) to validate the sensor response and overall
functionality. The readings are compared for consistency across the LCD and the Blynk app,
ensuring accurate data synchronization and transmission (figure 2).

5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The proposed air quality monitoring system was successfully developed and tested in various indoor
environments. The results demonstrate the system’s ability to detect harmful gases and provide real-
time feedback both locally and remotely.

A. System Response
The MQ2 sensor responded effectively to the presence of smoke and combustible gases. When
exposed to sources such as an LPG flame or incense stick, the analog values recorded by the
sensor increased significantly, indicating a rise in pollution levels. The system successfully
classified the air quality based on predefined threshold levels:
• 0–300: Good (Safe environment)
• 301–600: Moderate (Attention required)
• >600: Poor (Unsafe; possible gas leak)
These thresholds were reflected both on the 16×2 LCD display and the Blynk mobile
application, ensuring consistent and real-time data availability.

B. Real time monitoring

The integration of the Blynk platform enabled wireless data transmission to a smartphone. The
app interface displayed the gas concentration using graphical widgets (e.g., gauges and charts),
providing users with intuitive visual feedback. This functionality proved useful in scenarios
where users were not in the immediate vicinity of the sensor.
 C. Accuracy and Stability
While the MQ2 sensor does not differentiate between specific gases, it provided reliable
qualitative information about the overall air quality. The sensor showed stable readings when
not exposed to pollution sources and reacted rapidly to sudden changes in the environment.

D. Limitations
Although effective for basic air quality monitoring, the system has some limitations:
• The MQ2 sensor does not offer precise quantification of individual gas concentrations.
• Sensor readings can be influenced by temperature and humidity, which were not
accounted for in the current design.
• Long-term stability may be affected without recalibration.

E. Practical Applications
The system is suitable for deployment in households, kitchens, parking areas, and small
industrial spaces where gas leakage or smoke is a concern. Its low cost, simplicity, and mobile
integration make it an accessible solution for early warning and indoor environmental
monitoring.

6. ADVANTAGES
The proposed IoT-based air quality monitoring system offers several advantages over traditional and
high-cost air monitoring stations. These benefits include:

1. Cost-Effective Design
The use of affordable components such as the MQ2 sensor and NodeMCU makes the system
economically viable for small-scale and personal applications.

2. Real-Time Monitoring
Continuous monitoring and immediate reporting of gas concentration levels are achieved
through the integration of Wi-Fi and the Blynk IoT platform.
3. Remote Accessibility
Users can access air quality data from anywhere via the Blynk mobile application, enhancing
convenience and safety.

4. Compact and Portable

The system is lightweight and compact, allowing it to be deployed in various environments
such as homes, kitchens, parking areas, and small industries.
5. User-Friendly Interface
The 16×2 LCD display and smartphone dashboard provide clear and intuitive data
visualization for both technical and non-technical users.

6. Quick Response to Gas Leaks

The MQ2 sensor responds rapidly to changes in gas concentration, allowing for early
detection of hazardous conditions.
7. Ease of Development and Customization
Open-source hardware and software platforms (Arduino IDE and Blynk) make the system
easy to modify or expand for future improvements.
7. APPLICATIONS
The developed air quality monitoring system has a wide range of applications in both residential and
commercial environments. Its flexibility, portability, and real-time monitoring capabilities make it
suitable for the following use cases:

1. Household Safety Monitoring

Can be deployed in kitchens or living areas to detect smoke or gas leaks from stoves, heaters,
or faulty appliances, thus enhancing domestic safety.
2. Parking Areas and Garages
Monitors harmful gas emissions from vehicles, helping to alert users about poor air quality in
enclosed parking spaces.
3. Small Industries and Workshops
Useful in monitoring air pollution levels in environments where fuel combustion or chemical
usage may release hazardous gases.
4. Schools and Educational Labs
Serves as a practical tool for teaching environmental monitoring, IoT concepts, and
embedded systems to students.
5. Healthcare and Hospitals
Ensures clean air in sensitive environments such as patient wards or near oxygen supply
storage where flammable gases could be dangerous.
6. IoT-Based Smart Homes
Can be integrated into smart home ecosystems to automate ventilation systems or trigger
alarms based on gas levels.
7. Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens
Helps maintain safety standards by continuously tracking air quality in areas where open
flames and gas usage are common.

8. SUSTAINABILITY
The proposed air quality monitoring system supports environmental sustainability by enabling early
detection of harmful gases and promoting awareness of indoor pollution. Its low-power consumption,
minimal hardware footprint, and wireless capabilities make it suitable for long-term deployment with
minimal environmental impact. By encouraging individuals and organizations to take proactive
safety measures, the system contributes to healthier living environments and reduced health risks
from air pollution.

Additionally, the use of open-source platforms (NodeMCU, Blynk, Arduino IDE) minimizes
dependence on proprietary systems and supports a community-driven approach to technological
development.

9. FUTURE SCOPE
The system can be enhanced and scaled for broader environmental and smart-city applications.
Potential future developments include:

a. Multi-Gas Detection: Integrating additional sensors (e.g., MQ135, DHT11) to

monitor CO₂, CO, NOx, temperature, and humidity.
b. Data Logging and Analysis: Implementing cloud storage and historical data
visualization for long-term air quality tracking.
 c. Mobile Alerts and Automation: Sending SMS/email alerts and triggering automated
actions (e.g., turning on exhaust fans).
d. Solar Power Integration: Using solar panels for power to make the system
energy- independent and more eco-friendly.
e. Edge AI: Incorporating basic machine learning at the edge to predict hazardous
conditions or classify pollution sources.

10. CONCLUSION

In this paper, an IoT-based air quality monitoring system was successfully designed and implemented
using the Node MCU ESP8266 microcontroller and the MQ2 gas sensor. The system provides an
efficient and low-cost solution for detecting harmful gases such as LPG, smoke, and methane in real-
time. The integration of a local LCD display and the Blynk IoT platform enables both on-site and
remote monitoring, ensuring user convenience and safety.

Experimental results confirmed that the system is capable of promptly detecting gas concentration
changes and alerting users through visual and mobile-based feedback. Its compact design, wireless
communication, and affordability make it highly suitable for deployment in homes, kitchens, parking
areas, and small industries.

Future enhancements may include the integration of multiple sensors to detect a broader range of
pollutants, incorporation of temperature and humidity compensation, and advanced data analytics for
predictive monitoring. The developed system thus lays a foundation for scalable, smart environmental
monitoring solutions in the context of smart cities and IoT ecosystems.
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