Date of Award

6-2024

Degree Name

MS in Electrical Engineering

Department/Program

Electrical Engineering

College

College of Engineering

Advisor

Vladimir Prodanov

Advisor Department

Electrical Engineering

Advisor College

College of Engineering

Abstract

Prior research has shown that indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts cognitive performance. At Cal Poly, many older buildings are unable to maintain appropriate IAQ because of their outdated ventilation systems and the increasing number of students in the rooms. This work analyzes the IAQ of different buildings at Cal Poly, with a focus on Building 20. Carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity inside classrooms are collected using an integrated circuit sensor and a microcontroller. A total of 38 hours of data was collected, with 22 of those hours in Building 20 specifically. We find that unlike temperature and relative humidity, CO2 levels routinely exceed 1,000 ppm—a concentration that hinders cognitive function. A questionnaire distributed to Cal Poly students suggests that while students can recognize poor IAQ in classrooms, they erroneously attribute these poor conditions to temperature and humidity instead of CO2. This data is then used to propose a system which can collect long-term data based on optimal placement, storage, and power requirements.

Download

Share

COinS