About MAQS
Air pollution is a major issue of modern society. It affects all aspects of our life, including the most important one: our health. In order to fight the air pollution problem, we need accurate data about air quality. MAQS is a university research project, focused on using novel methods of air quality research and mapping. It was developed within the group of researchers from the University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, but it is not limited to the University. Various people and institutions supported MAQS directly and indirectly, by providing sensor locations, internet access and willingness to contribute. MAQS team is based in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where most sensors are located. However, MAQS is going to be the global network of sensors, covering many countries on different continents. Every MAQS sensor measures particulate matter (PM) concentrations in real time (using optical method), GNSS coordinates and time, and (optionally) air pressure, relative humidity and temperature. Current values and daily averages are shown on the map. Special mathematical method of spatial interpolation has been developed, which enables real-time computations of PM concentrations in every point in and around the city of Sarajevo! Accuracy of presented data is the priority of the project. Years of development and testing of countless sensors and hundreds of calibration curves are behind the main calibration algorithm of MAQS. Among all features, that is probaly the one that mostly distinguishes MAQS from other similar projects.
Software philosophy
The core part of MAQS is written from scratch in C++ programming language. Software components from third parties are chosen with simple philosophy in mind: MAQS should be the open source. Not a single piece of MAQS is a proprietary software. Therefore, we would like to thank to thousand implicite contributors, who created brilliant software projects, which enabled MAQS in this form. MAQS uses the following software components:
- Linux operating system
- Apache web server and PHP scripting language
- gcc C/C++ compiler
- Boost C++ libraries
- PostgreSQL relational database
- OpenLayers library together with OpenStreetMap
- ESP-SDK (using FreeRTOS and lwIP)
MAQS research group members:
- Adnan Masic, leading researcher
- Damir Muslic, main programmer
- Dzevad Bibic, senior researcher
- Boran Pikula, senior researcher
- Rajfa Musemic, senior researcher
- Faruk Razic, senior researcher
MAQS partners:
- University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- Embassy of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Sarajevo Canton
- JP Sarajevo
- UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina