Tackling Light Pollution Using Internet of Things (IoT) Automation

Light pollution is one of the major problems in most unban cities across the globe. A team at the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy (CBSS) in Nigeria organized a training workshop titled Astro-IoT, as a remedial approach to light pollution. The aim was to proffer solutions to light pollution using Internet of Things (IoT) based automation and control system. The event recorded a total of two hundred and twenty (220) participants selected from Universities within Enugu, Anambra, and Ekiti States, all in Nigeria. These participants were all undergraduate science students at these universities. The project utilized affordable low-cost electronic components, sensors and IoT system to demonstrate a mitigation control approach to excessive outdoor lighting.

The program deliverables were conveyed through online and in-house technical sessions. The online session featured various technical presentations about light pollution, citizen science, IoT systems, pale blue dot – Earth, and a few other topics. The in-house session featured more in-depth presentations and practical sessions on the topics presented during the online session. The practical sessions were hands-on activities that demonstrated IoT-based automation control of light pollution in a “City on a Table” standalone setup. The “City on a Table” is a simulation setup that mimics conventional cities with streetlights. The participants indulged through the development processes and components of this IoT-based control system.

The participants were guided through developing various functional projects, and microPython scripts using components in their training kits. The highlight of the training session was developing a script to automate streetlights in a “City on a Table” standalone system, an IoT-based automated simulation based on light intensity and proximity sensors. The system operated in two modes: daytime (lights off) and nighttime (lights on), with energy conservation mechanisms to reduce light pollution when no users were detected. This system shared update information of activities in “the city” with connected devices in a wireless local area network (WLAN).

The workshops equipped participants with practical skills in MicroPython scriptwriting and IoT network configuration. This project demonstrated how low-cost indigenous materials can be used to mitigate light pollution through automated systems, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in urban environments. During the workshops, citizen science projects adopted were the use of the Globe at Night application to measure night sky brightness, the use of sky quality meters to study night-sky luminance, and the use of the Anecdata application, which uses smartphone astrophotography to report light pollution at different locations.

 

Activities:
1. Online Workshops: The first online workshop had talks on Introduction to space science and astronomy using the concept of the Pale Blue Dot, automation technology, internet of things, light pollution with its effect on astronomy and space science, light pollution mitigation using technology, and citizen science approach to light pollution control. The second online workshop discussed the difficulties encountered during the workshop, advancing on the city on the bench simulated standalone system developed during the workshop by different groups, discussions on the codes written during the workshop, and dark sky advocacy.

2. In-house Workshop: The in-house workshop was from the 22 – 24 May 2024, with subsequent follow-ups for 2 months (June – July). The in-house workshop technical sessions were on introduction to automation systems and internet of things, embedded systems and designs, introduction to python and installations, introduction to micro python and ESP boards, city on a Table simulation and its light pollution control through automation, and citizen science approach to light pollution control.

2a. Introduction to Python and Installations: The participants with little or no knowledge about Python programming were introduced to it, followed by the installation of the workshop programs from various repositories.

2b. Introduction to Micropython and ESP boards: The participants were introduced to the use of micropython which was used to program the NodeMCU ESP boards.

2c. “City on a Table” Simulation: The participants worked in groups on developing an IoT-based automated system that mitigates light pollution in a simulated “City on a Table” standalone system.

2d. Citizen Science Workshops: These workshops introduced the participants to various methods and applications that can be used to track and monitor light pollution across various communities. These include the use of sky quality meters for night luminance assessment, introduction to the use of Globe at Night application, and the use of the Anecdata application, which uses smartphone astrophotography to report light pollution.

3. Stargazing: The project’s stargazing session was organized at the University of Nigeria (UNN) in collaboration with Young Astronomers Club of the University of Nigeria (YAC, UNN), and Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy, Nsukka. There was a change in venue as initially proposed due to maintenance at the Centre for Basic Space Science Observatory Complex.