AirGo is KAUST’s hybrid air quality monitoring system, combining mobile and stationary technologies to understand urban air pollution. Its modular, solar-powered units are affordable and adaptable, packing sensors that track particulate matter, gases, temperature, humidity, and pressure.  

Purpose-built for scalability and real-world impact, AirGo directly supports Saudi Vision 2030’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the growth of smart cities.  

“The system’s mobility allows for the monitoring of extensive areas, facilitating the precise identification of environmental issues,” said KAUST Bioengineering Ph.D. candidate Yurii Tsyban. “Equipped with GPS and a global system for mobile communications, AirGo tracks vehicle locations and transmits data to the cloud, providing users with real-time, accurate environmental information.”  

Along with Tsyban, developers of this KAUST technology include Professor Khaled Nabil Salama, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Professor Ibrahim Hoteit, Earth Science and Engineering, research specialist Eckaard Le Roux, as well as former research technician Alexander Przybysz and former user experience designer Dalia Khoja. 

The devices can be placed on vehicles such as cars and buses, as well as in stationary positions like streetlights, where they collect air quality data from various locations and times across the city. 

The system can measure gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and nitrogen dioxide, as well as coarse particles such as dust, fine particles from combustion, and ultrafine particles that can enter the bloodstream — providing detailed insights into air quality at a granular level.  

In response to the need for cost-effective, flexible, and comprehensive environmental monitoring, KAUST researchers developed AirGo, noted Tsyban. While traditional stationary systems often face limitations in coverage and adaptability, AirGo’s modular design allows users to swap gas modules and select sensors suited to the environment or pollutants being measured, making it effective across a wide range of conditions. 

He added: “Early users and evaluators have responded positively to AirGo, particularly appreciating its mobility and ability to collect real-time environmental data over large areas. The modular sensor design has also been noted as a valuable feature, allowing users to tailor the system to specific monitoring needs.” 

Read more at KAUST News.