Development of Smart Environmental Database Management Platform for Chachoengsao Smart City

Research and Innovation

“Chachoengsao, part of the Eastern Economic Corridor region and actively striving to develop into a smart city, is an area blessed with abundant natural resources to support its economy, particularly agriculture. To enhance environmental sustainability in the province, the Department of Environmental Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with other organizations, has established a smart data management system for environmental quality management. It encompasses three key areas: water quality management through hydrological cycle management, air quality management through mathematical modeling, and community and industrial waste management through the Circular Economy approach. The swift and precise data presentation, serving as a reliable reference for the province, will have an impact on the development of water and food security in the province and the country. It will also facilitate decision-making based on data and academic principles for future developments.”

The Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, specializes sustainable environmental management for society and green industry. Current focus is on developing sensor network systems to monitor environmental quality in real-time monitoring system. Continuous knowledge development has been pursued, such as the implementation of an indoor air quality and water quality sensor system within the university and delivered to society and industry to improve people’s living quality.

With the extensive knowledge, the Department of Environmental Engineering has taken a leading role in the “Development of Smart Environmental Database Management Platform for Chachoengsao Smart City” project in collaboration with more than 10 organizations from both government and private sectors. This project aims to establish a smart environmental database management system at the provincial level in Chachoengsao province, one of the key provinces in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) region that is striving to become a smart city. This province boasts abundant agricultural and industrial resources, making it imperative to develop environmental management infrastructure to address the challenges posed by urban expansion and the shift from Industry 3.0 to Industry 4.0.

The project focuses on three key aspects of environmental management: water quality management through water cycle management, air quality management through mathematical modelling, and municipal and industrial waste management through the Circular Economy approach.

Regarding water quality management, the project collects various water properties, particularly the Water Quality Index, to assess water quality and pollutant levels in water sources. This information is used to monitor and safeguard the water quality for consumption and aquatic life in the Bang Pakong River. Appropriate technologies are applied to address water quality issues, utilizing the principles of water cycles to recycle water according to domestic use and agricultural water quality.

In the context of air quality management, additional sensors are installed and integrated into the existing database to monitor air pollution conditions. This smart data management system at the provincial level enhances awareness of the carrying capacity of the air in Chachoengsao, benefiting the general population, government, and energy industry stakeholders. It supports informed decision-making based on data and academic principles.

For the sustainable management of waste in the Bang Pakong district, intelligent technologies such as river waste counting systems and smart waste bins are employed to monitor community and industrial waste management practices. This leads to a transition towards a Circular Economy model. Furthermore, data collected from nearly 100 stations across the province facilitates the selection of appropriate social technologies and techniques for waste management in various categories.

This project represents a significant initiative for the Smart Environmental Database Management Platform, paving the way for provincial-level environmental management, including adaptable strategies and policies for implementation in other provinces or hard-to-reach areas.