Step 1: Mounting WisBlock Parts
Assemble the RAK3372 WisBlock Core onto the RAK19003 WisBlock Base Board. Connect the RAK1906 environmental sensor, ensuring its gas sensing element is exposed to the ambient air (within the enclosure). Attach the RAK1921 power module and insert an active SIM card into the RAK3372.
Step 2: Link to PC (via USB Cable)
Connect the assembled WisBlock unit (via the RAK3372) to your PC using a standard USB cable.
Step 3: Setup Arduino IDE and Load Files
Configure Arduino IDE for the RAK3372. Install the Adafruit BME680 library for the RAK1906. You will also need libraries for cellular MQTT communication (e.g., TinyGSM). Load the Arduino sketch designed to read gas/VOC levels and send them via cellular.
Step 4: Upload the Code
Select RAK3372 Board and the correct COM port. Upload the code to your WisBlock device. After successful upload, open the Serial Monitor (set Baud rate to 15200) to observe gas resistance readings (proxy for VOC/Gas levels) and cellular network status. The device will periodically send gas/VOC data directly via cellular to Datacake. Datacake will allow you to visualize the air quality trends on a map, set up thresholds for alerts, and integrate with IFTTT to send SMS/email notifications to authorities or industrial managers if dangerous levels of pollutants are detected, ensuring environmental compliance and public health.
Explanation: The code initializes the RAK3372 cellular module and the RAK1906 environmental sensor, with a focus on collecting raw gas resistance values from its BME680 component (which indicates VOC/Gas concentration). This gas data is formatted into a JSON payload and sent via MQTT over the cellular network to Datacake. Datacake provides an intuitive platform to visualize this data (e.g., on a map, showing pollution hotspots). Alerts are configured on Datacake to trigger when gas levels exceed predefined safe thresholds. These alerts can be pushed via webhooks to IFTTT, which then sends SMS messages or emails to environmental agencies or factory managers, enabling rapid response to mitigate air pollution events and protect surrounding communities.
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