A team from the University of the Philippines has created an air quality device that can handle heavy dust without breaking down. The monitor is also cheaper to fix than most commercial options.
The machine, called ROAM, uses light to detect and count tiny particles floating in the air. Its creators say it works like a microscope but for pollution instead of cells.
Two UP researchers led the work. They started the project back in 2014 just to see if they could build something that worked.
What makes this device different is its design. Many air monitors have a tiny hole that gets blocked when the air is too dirty. ROAM does not use that kind of setup, so it keeps running even in very dusty places.
The team tested the device in Isabela province for several months. The unit sat in a dusty area for around six to eight months. When they got it back, the outside was covered in grime. But the inside was still working fine.
Another unit went to South Cotabato and stayed there for almost half a year with no one watching over it. It also survived without any issues.
Local governments are now the main buyers of this technology, as they can use the monitors to track pollution in their own areas without spending too much money.