Advancing Sustainability in Surface Coal Mines Through Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring: Low-Cost IoT Solutions and the Role of Meteorological Factors in PM and GHG Emissions

This paper presents a development of a “smart center” for studying particulate matter (PM) and other gaseous emissions pollution in a surface coal mine located in the Jharia coalfield of Jharkhand, India, utilizing internet of things (IOT)-based capabilities and low-cost sensors data. These pollutants in the air in and around surface mines present significant environmental challenges that require comprehensive assessment and management. This study undertook four winter months from January to April 2023 of real-time, low-cost IoT-based monitoring of PM1, PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, O3, CO, CO2, TVOC, and noise pollution, along with meteorological parameters, such as humidity, rainfall, and temperature. Data were collected at three locations: within a mine site area, in a buffer zone located 1.5 km from the mine, and at a non-impacted residential area within the university campus. Mining operations and active mine fires are primary contributors to pollution. Peak PM concentrations around the mining site were observed during morning and evening hours (5–7 a.m. and 4–6 p.m.). This study further identified that air pollutant concentrations were positively correlated with humidity but negatively correlated with the atmospheric temperature at the mine site, but not at the university campus of the IIT–ISM.