The environmental monitoring system includes what?

The environment plays an important role in human life and development. To protect the environment, we need to accurately capture information about environmental quality. An environmental monitoring system is the tool that provides this information.

How Many Types of Environmental Monitoring Systems Are There?

Environmental monitoring systems include monitoring stations, monitoring equipment, transmission networks, data processing and analysis, databases, management software, personnel, and more. All these components are organized and operated to collect, analyze, assess, and forecast environmental quality. Currently, there are two main methods for conducting environmental monitoring: periodic direct monitoring and automatic environmental monitoring systems (online environmental monitoring stations).

The automatic environmental monitoring system can be remotely controlled via an internet connection and automatically alerts when indicators exceed allowable limits, making monitoring faster, more advanced, and more accurate.

The environmental monitoring system includes two main categories:

1.Water Environment Monitoring

• Physical parameters: Temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, transparency, color, salinity, dissolved oxygen, etc.
• Chemical parameters: Total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), ammonium (NH4+), phosphate (PO43-), chloride (Cl-), heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, etc.)
• Biological parameters: Microorganisms, sediment pH, sediment salinity, sediment moisture.

These parameters are selected based on the monitoring objectives, the characteristics of the water source, and environmental technical standards for water quality.

2. Air Environment Monitoring

• Meteorological parameters: Temperature, humidity, wind speed, pressure, solar radiation, etc.
• Air pollution parameters: Suspended particles (PM10, PM2.5), total suspended particles (TSP), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, halogenated organic compounds (HOCs).

Depending on the monitoring purpose and actual conditions, the selected parameters may vary. However, the above parameters are the most basic and common.

Structure of the Environmental Monitoring System

The environmental monitoring system consists of two main components: hardware and software:

• Hardware: Includes machinery and equipment used for measurement and sample collection.
• Software: A storage system that supports the process of evaluation and monitoring.

Continuous Monitoring Equipment

• Water Environment Monitoring Equipment: Devices for measuring temperature, pressure, water flow; COD meters (measuring chemical oxygen demand in water); DO meters (Dissolved Oxygen Controllers); pH/ORP meters; Total Suspended Solids (TSS) meters; and various other supporting equipment.
• Air Environment Monitoring Equipment: Devices for measuring flow rate, temperature, and exhaust gas pressure; multipurpose meters for measuring the concentration of inorganic substances in exhaust gas, analyzing CO, SO2, NOx, O2 indicators; exhaust gas dust measuring devices.

Data Transmission System (Datalogger)

According to Circular 10/2021/TT-BTNMT, enterprises required to install automatic environmental monitoring systems must connect and continuously transmit data to the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The datalogger is a collection of devices responsible for this crucial role, with the function of receiving, storing, managing, and transmitting data through a GPRS network.

Surveillance Camera System

The surveillance camera system monitors the automatic and continuous monitoring process. All data is easily managed and tracked through a mobile app.

• Wastewater Monitoring Camera System: Includes cameras at the discharge point and inside the monitoring station.
• Exhaust Gas Monitoring Camera System: Observes automatic exhaust gas monitoring from the chimney outlet, data controller, and inside the monitoring station.

Infrastructure and Other Auxiliary Equipment

The infrastructure and auxiliary equipment of the environmental monitoring system include: a station to protect monitoring equipment, air conditioning, UPS, fire alarms, smoke detectors, direct and indirect lightning protection, water pumps, and electrical cabinets.

Basic Requirements for Designing an Automatic Environmental Monitoring Program

Building an environmental monitoring system must comply with the following regulations for periodic environmental monitoring:

• It should align with the management and environmental protection plans of the governing agency, be strategic, and have integrated planning.
• Ensure a complete and highly feasible process, while also meeting modern standards in machinery, equipment, and scientific logic.
• Comply with regulations for designing automatic environmental monitoring programs for each type of environment, such as surface water, groundwater, wastewater, seawater, ambient air, exhaust gases, etc.
• Ensure appropriate monitoring frequency for each type of environment throughout the year, as well as reasonable selection of components and monitoring parameters.
• Adhere to the preservation process and methods for each environmental parameter that needs monitoring.
• Regularly review, check, and calibrate parameters to ensure absolute accuracy.
• The monitoring system, once designed, must be certified by the relevant regulatory authority and approved in writing.

Installing environmental monitoring systems in Vietnam is both a mandatory requirement and a corporate responsibility. Entities that fail to comply with the above regulations may face administrative penalties of up to 200 million VND.

Reeco Tech specializes in the installation of automatic monitoring systems for weather, air quality, and water quality. If you are interested in learning more about installing a monitoring system, please contact us using the information below.