IoT-Based Continuous Health and Environmental Monitoring System for Drainage Workers Using Wearable Sensors

Abstract

Drainage workers are routinely exposed to toxic gases, contaminated water, high temperatures, and infectious agents, which can cause severe health risks. This paper presents an IoT-enabled wearable system that enables continuous health and environmental surveillance for drainage personnel. The wearable module integrates physiological sensing— heart rate, SpO₂, skin temperature, and motion (via accelerometer)—with environmental gas detection (H₂S, CH₄, CO, O₂, humidity, and ambient temperature). Data are collected at adjustable intervals, preprocessed on an edge microcontroller, and transmitted through BLE, LoRa, or GSM to a secure cloud platform. The system performs anomaly detection, visualization, and real-time alerting through a mobile and web dashboard. Prototype trials demonstrated reliable 10-second transmission intervals and prompt alerts during simulated exposure and stress scenarios. Edge analytics reduced latency and bandwidth use while maintaining data integrity. Privacy-preserving data handling and configurable alarm policies enhance ethical and operational compliance. The system is scalable for municipal deployment and can be integrated with AI-based risk prediction and GIS localization for optimized emergency response.