Description: PollenSense is a decentralized network of low-cost environmental sensors that monitor pollen levels and particulate matter in real time across neighborhoods. Built using microcontrollers like Arduino or ESP32 and affordable PM2.5/pollen sensors, each unit streams live air quality data to a central dashboard powered by Next.js.
Users can view hyper-localized pollen maps, subscribe to personalized alerts, and even contribute their own sensor nodes to expand the network. The data is open-source and can be used by researchers, allergy sufferers, and educators to track seasonal trends, identify hotspots, and forecast high-risk days.
Core Features:
DIY IoT sensor nodes with PM2.5 + pollen detection
Real-time data streaming via MQTT or WebSockets
Interactive web dashboard with heatmaps & trends (Next.js + Recharts/Leaflet)
SMS/Email/Discord alerts for allergy-sensitive users
Open data API for researchers and developers
Optional integration with weather APIs and symptom logs for predictive modeling
Impact: By crowdsourcing environmental allergen data, PollenSense empowers communities to take control of their health, creates transparency around local air quality, and supports data-driven public health decisions. It’s a step toward equitable environmental awareness—one node at a time.