How can we as a society use environmental and energy data in such a way that it leads to concrete improvements in sustainability, safety and quality of life? A project team at RheinMain University of Applied Sciences addressed precisely this question. As part of an elective project, the students developed the ‘Environmental Calculator / Sensor Guard’ – a platform that not only collects sensor data, but also evaluates it intelligently and reacts immediately when necessary.
The project thus continues a tradition that is particularly close to our hearts at boTec: partnerships with regional educational institutions. Whether through Girls’ Day, our social commitment as part of the Golden Lily initiative, or now with practical university projects, we want to inspire young people to take an interest in technology and at the same time provide impetus for a sustainable, digital future.
The functionalities of the environmental computer
- Wide sensor coverage: From particulate matter and humidity to temperature, NOx, pressure and water levels – the solution takes a comprehensive and legally compliant approach to monitoring.
- Formula-based evaluation: Customisable calculations (e.g. Delta_Temp := temp2 – temp1) allow new laws, limit values and industry requirements to be quickly mapped. The syntax is based on Pascal – including operators, functions (sin, cos, sqrt, etc.) and comparison logic.
- From raw data to action: Web reporting, printouts and SMS notifications are provided – for clear decisions in real time.
A look inside the system
The project poster ‘Sensor Guard: Monitoring and processing sensor data and sending alerts’ shows dashboard excerpts, the formula editor and the alert system. Objectives: uniform data interfaces, user-friendly live visualisation, complex calculations without in-depth technical knowledge and email alerts for threshold values. The tech stack includes React, Java Spring Boot, Python, Nginx, Docker and Keycloak.
Why this fits to boTec
boTec stands for practical digitalisation with regional impact. Flexible, compliant data analysis – carried out directly by specialist departments rather than just specialists – facilitates energy and resource efficiency projects in local authorities and SMEs alike. This is exactly where the environmental calculator comes in: file-based interfaces, cyclical buffering and freely definable formulas close the gap between measured values and measures.