Need:
The activities of the sugar sector in the southern coastal area of Guatemala are summarized in the cultivation and cutting of sugarcane. Cutting activities involve the burning of residues, which are coordinated through the Controlled Burning System. This system requires verification of environmental conditions to ensure that the activity is carried out safely and without repercussions for nearby receptors.
Therefore, Asazgua – Azúcar de Guatemala needs to implement an air quality monitoring system in order to detect and implement preventive measures in the face of possible scenarios that represent a risk to the population and the environment.
Solution:
Deployment of a network of Kunak AIR Pro stations powered by solar panels to control waste burning activities through real-time monitoring and identify impact situations generated by sugar industry activities.
Locations:
- Instituto de Investigación del Centro Azucarero en Guatemala
Network characteristics:
Devices: Kunak AIR PRO stations + a portfolio of sensors that record meteorological conditions, particulate matter and gases.
Measurement parameters:
- Particles PM1, PM2.5, PM10
- SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide), NO2 (Nitrogen Dioxide), O3 (Ozone)
- Temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure
Actions carried out:
- Analysis of micro-implementation of monitoring stations according to the technical guidelines of the USEPA air quality handbook.
- Deployment of a sensor network with wireless communication during five years of project duration.
- Real-time monitoring of critical points during controlled burning activities.
- Cloud-based system for remote network operation and threshold management.
- Data reporting and reporting to obtain representative air quality samples.
Benefits:
Provision of accurate and reliable data on the behavior of air quality during the harvest season (sugarcane cutting) and the non-harvest season (sugarcane growth), contributing mainly to the identification of critical points during controlled burning activities.
