Low-Cost Garbage Level Monitoring System in Drainages Using Internet of Things in the Philippines

Abstract

A common problem in a developing tropical country like the Philippines is the flooding during downpours. One of the causes is the clogging of drainages due to garbage accumulation, which results in overflowing. A countermeasure to minimize this problem is the deployment of an internet of things-based garbage monitoring system. In this system, the ultrasonic sensors were used to provide input data on the level of the garbage in the drainage. These data were then transmitted to the web application for visualization. A message, informing the status of the garbage level in real-time, was sent to the registered user. Also, a strainer was used to serve as a stopper of the accumulated garbage in the drainage. This strainer was set up in the middle of the manhole so that the detected level of garbage and water would be compared. In addition, the ultrasonic sensors were mounted on the top and the back of the strainer to detect the garbage level and serve as a comparative sensor, respectively. Furthermore, to assess the performance of the developed system, several tests were conducted in Cebu City, Philippines. These tests included the short message service delay, internet speed, and the garbage level. The results showed that the developed system can effectively deliver its desired operations. However, since the system is reliant on internet connectivity, it is highly recommended to use such in a 5G network.