Communities across the Philippines could become more environmentally sustainable, thanks to the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) spearheading the use of automated environmental monitoring technology and regular environmental testing procedures for possible deployment nationwide.
At the behest of UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, who prioritized the protection and preservation of UPD’s natural environment in his vision for the campus, the UPD-CS led other colleges and institutions in the University in setting up sophisticated sensors for keeping an eye on the environment around the clock. The Chancellor appointed the multi-sectoral Task Force on Environmental Sustainability (TFES) to create environmental action points for a possible model for a green campus, which could then serve as the prototype for green spaces nationwide.
Real-time environmental monitoring
Two key action points determined by the expert team are the deployment in the UPD-CS’ National Science Complex (NSC) of the AirboxSense system for real-time air quality reporting to the general public, and the establishment of an air and water quality monitoring network with the Diliman Environmental Management Office.
The AirboxSense was co-developed by UP and foreign university partners with funding from the Asia-India Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation (AISTC). “Air quality monitoring using AirboxSense in the NSC started in August 2022. It’s an initiative between the Philippines, Malaysia, and India to put up these monitoring devices for air quality control,” explained Dr. Mylene Cayetano, a professor at the UPD-CS’ Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM), a member of the UPD TFES, and the Philippine Principal Investigator for the AISTIC.
To complement the AirboxSense data, the IESM undertakes regular monitoring of the University’s various creeks and streams: water samples are collected at least once a month and analyzed in the laboratory to assess factors such as the presence of excessive nutrients and suspended solids, irregular pH, and alkalinity, among other parameters.
Towards a solar-powered campus
The UPD-CS also aims to lessen its ecological footprint through solar power installations throughout the NSC. By considering the optimal size and placement of solar panels, Dr. Cayetano and her colleagues were able to determine the best ways to address the campus’ energy needs. Solar panels can save energy for the UPD-CS by lessening the dependency on fossil fuels during the daytime.
“Together with UPD-CS scientists Dr. Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez and Ms. Jelaine Gan, we calculated the area ng lahat ng rooftop ng CS buildings. We determined the surface area of the rooftops facing south. Then we proposed how many solar panels we need to install in CS para hindi na tayo dependent sa fossil fuels, and eventually we will transform into an efficient campus,” said Dr. Cayetano. “UPD-CS Dean Giovanni Tapang presented this idea to Chancellor Fidel, and it aligns with the Chancellor’s initiative to make UPD an environmentally-sustainable campus,” she added.
Deployment beyond UP
Going beyond the confines of the University, the UPD-CS, and the IESM collaborated with the Rotary Club of Makati on a system that reports real-time data on air quality via the Airtoday.ph website. The system was also initially designed to record and display air quality data on other areas outside the UPD, including the Lung Center of the Philippines and EDSA Muñoz.
“Picking up from this initiative, nagkakaroon ng other initiatives pa towards a smart campus and environmental sustainability,” Dr. Cayetano said. She cited the UPD Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI) for helping automate the AirboxSense through the UP Center for Air Research (UP CARE) program. Dr. Cayetano also highlighted the Robust Optical Aerosol Monitor (ROAM) developed by Dr. Len Herald Lim of the Institute of Chemistry, which could be deployed outside UPD in the future.
Aiming for nationwide deployment
Dr. Cayetano believes that these projects are of nationwide significance: the information they gather and the data they record will greatly help organizations and institutions across the country in finding solutions to environmental issues. “These [information and data] will eventually tell the numbers. Nasaan na tayo? Nasaan ‘yung baseline? Ano ‘yung emissions natin noong walang activities dahil sa pandemic? Ano naman ‘yung increase ng emissions noong nagkaroon ng activities such as face-to-face classes and the opening of the UPD campus and offices? By knowing these, we know where to stand. By knowing those numbers, we will know how to manage the impacts on the environment of such activities.”
Through these and other initiatives, UPD’s TFES is spearheading the creation of tailor-fit approaches to environmental challenges that can be implemented outside the campus. Data collected from these initiatives can also be used by local governments and other decision-makers in managing localized environmental activities.
For interview requests and more information on UPD-CS’ automation and environmental monitoring initiatives and the TFES, please contact Dr. Mylene Cayetano at [email protected]
For other inquiries, please contact [email protected]
Jamii kote Ufilipino zinaweza kuwa na mazingira endelevu zaidi, shukrani kwa Chuo Kikuu cha Ufilipino - Chuo Kikuu cha Sayansi cha Diliman (UPDCS) kinachoongoza matumizi ya teknolojia ya ufuatiliaji wa mazingira ya moja kwa moja na taratibu za kawaida za upimaji wa mazingira kwa uwezekano wa kupelekwa nchini kote. Kwa ombi la UPD Chancellor Fidel Nemenza, ambaye aliweka kipaumbele ulinzi na uhifadhi wa mazingira ya asili ya UPD katika maono yake kwa chuo kikuu, UPD-CS iliongoza vyuo vikuu vingine na taasisi katika Chuo Kikuu kuanzisha sensorer za kisasa kwa ajili ya kuweka jicho juu ya mazingira karibu saa. "Mwanasheria huyo ameteua ""Task Force on Environmental Sustainability"" (TFES) kuunda hatua za mazingira kwa mfano unaowezekana wa chuo kikuu cha kijani kibichi, ambacho kinaweza kutumika kama mfano wa nafasi za kijani kibichi nchini kote." "Mfano wa hatua mbili muhimu za hatua zilizowekwa na timu ya wataalam ni kupelekwa katika ""UPD-CS"" National Science Complex (NSC) ya mfumo wa AirboxSense kwa ripoti ya ubora wa hewa kwa umma kwa wakati halisi, na kuanzishwa kwa mtandao wa ufuatiliaji wa ubora wa hewa na maji na Ofisi ya Usimamizi wa Mazingira ya Diliman." AirBossSense ilitengenezwa na washirika wa chuo kikuu cha UP na kigeni na ufadhili kutoka kwa Ushirikiano wa Sayansi, Teknolojia na Ubunifu wa Asia-India (AISTC). Ufuatiliaji wa ubora wa hewa kwa kutumia AirboxSense katika NSC ilianza mnamo Agosti 2022. "Hii ni mpango kati ya Ufilipino, Malaysia na India kuweka vifaa hivi vya ufuatiliaji kwa udhibiti wa ubora wa hewa, ""alieleza Dk Mylene Cayetano, profesa katika Taasisi ya UPD-CS ya Sayansi ya Mazingira na Hali ya Hewa (IESM), mwanachama wa UPD TFES, na Mtafiti Mkuu wa Ufilipino kwa AISTIC." Ili kukamilisha data ya AirboxSense, IESM inachukua ufuatiliaji wa kawaida wa vijito na vijito mbalimbali vya Chuo Kikuu: sampuli za maji hukusanywa angalau mara moja kwa mwezi na kuchambuliwa katika maabara ili kutathmini mambo kama vile uwepo wa virutubisho vya kupita kiasi na vimeng'enya, pH isiyo ya kawaida, na alkalinity, kati ya vigezo vingine. UPD-CS pia inakusudia kupunguza alama yake ya ikolojia kupitia mitambo ya nishati ya jua katika NSC. Kwa kuzingatia ukubwa bora na uwekaji wa paneli za jua, Dk Cayetano na wenzake waliweza kuamua njia bora za kushughulikia mahitaji ya nishati ya chuo kikuu. Paneli za jua zinaweza kuokoa nishati kwa UPD-CS kwa kupunguza utegemezi wa mafuta ya visukuku wakati wa mchana. Pamoja na wanasayansi wa UPD-CS Dk Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez na Bi Jelaine Gan, tulihesabu eneo la ng lahat ng paa ng majengo ya CS. Tulipima eneo la juu la paa zilizokuwa zikitazama kusini. """Tunaomba paneli za jua nyingi ambazo tunahitaji kuanzisha katika CSP, na hatimaye tutabadilika kuwa chuo kikuu cha ufanisi,"" alisema Dr. Cayetano." "Dekan wa UPD-CS Giovanni Tapang aliwasilisha wazo hili kwa Kansela Fidel, na linalingana na mpango wa Kansela wa kufanya UPD kuwa chuo cha mazingira endelevu", aliongeza. "Kupitia mpango wa ""UPD-CS"" na ""IESM,"" Rotary Club of Makati imeshirikiana na shirika la kimataifa la kimataifa la afya la kimataifa (IUCN) kuunda mfumo wa kutoa taarifa za wakati halisi kuhusu ubora wa hewa kupitia tovuti ya Airtoday." Mfumo huo pia ulibuniwa awali kurekodi na kuonyesha data ya ubora wa hewa katika maeneo mengine nje ya UPD, pamoja na Kituo cha Mapafu cha Ufilipino na EDSA Muñoz. <unk>Kuchukua kutoka mpango huu, nagkakaroon ng mipango mingine pa kuelekea chuo smart na uendelevu wa mazingira,<unk> Dr. Cayetano alisema. UPD Electrical na Electronics Engineering Institute (EEII) ni moja ya taasisi za teknolojia za umeme za Marekani zinazohusika katika utafiti wa AirboxSense. Dr. Cayetano pia alionyesha Robust Optical Aerosol Monitor (ROAM) iliyoundwa na Dk Len Herald Lim wa Taasisi ya Kemia, ambayo inaweza kutumiwa nje ya UPD katika siku zijazo. Kwa kuwa mradi huo unatarajiwa kuenea nchini kote, Dr. Cayetano anaamini kuwa miradi hii ina umuhimu wa kitaifa: habari wanayoikusanya na data wanayoorodhesha itasaidia sana mashirika na taasisi kote nchini katika kutafuta suluhisho la masuala ya mazingira. <unk>Hizi [habari na data] hatimaye kutaja idadi. Nasaan na tayo? Nasaan ‘yung msingi? Ano ‘yung emissions natin noong walang activities dahil sa pandemic? "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""UPD imeongeza uzalishaji wa gesi ya kaboni kwa njia ya shughuli kama vile madarasa ya uso kwa uso na ufunguzi wa chuo kikuu na ofisi za UPD.""" Kwa kujua mambo hayo, tunajua mahali tunapopaswa kusimama. "Kwa kujua idadi hizo, tutajua jinsi ya kusimamia athari za shughuli kama hizo kwa mazingira. ""Kupitia mipango hii na mingine, UPD's TFSE inaongoza uundaji wa mbinu za ""kufaa"" kwa changamoto za mazingira ambazo zinaweza kutekelezwa nje ya chuo." Takwimu zilizokusanywa kutoka kwa mipango hii zinaweza pia kutumiwa na serikali za mitaa na watendaji wengine wa maamuzi katika kusimamia shughuli za mazingira za mitaa. Kwa maombi ya mahojiano na habari zaidi juu ya UPD-CS, automatisering na mipango ya ufuatiliaji wa mazingira na TFES, tafadhali wasiliana na Dk Mylene Cayetano katika [email protected] Kwa maswali mengine, tafadhali wasiliana [email protected]