"Construction site dust can easily lead to air pollution, compromising visibility, increasing workplace safety risks, and elevating PM2.5 levels, which can harm personal health and even damage the ecological environment. Therefore, significant manpower and resources are required for effective management," said Hsieh Hung-Sung, Technical Specialist of the Air Quality Protection Section, the Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan City Government.
Dust pollution contributes to elevated PM2.5 levels, causing air pollution that reduces visibility and heightens workplace safety risks. It negatively impacts personal safety, ecological systems, and contributes to climate change. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can carry harmful chemical substances that adversely affect human health, potentially leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and even posing a cancer risk.
Traditional Dust Control Methods Are Time-Consuming and Labor-Intensive
"Traditionally, construction sites would use dust nets to cover material storage areas and exposed ground to prevent dust, as well as manually spray water and clean vehicle tires to reduce dust stirred up by moving vehicles. However, relying on manual methods often results in delays and is less effective at controlling dust in real-time. To address this, we collaborated with manufacturers to develop the AI Smart Dust Suppression Management System, which uses real-time air quality data to activate sprinklers for dust control, saving manpower," shared Hsieh Hung-Sung, Technical Specialist of the Air Quality Protection Section, the Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan City Government.
The Department of Environmental Protection, Taoyuan City Government, pioneered the "AI Smart Dust Suppression Management System," the first of its kind in Taiwan. This system integrates CCTV dust image recognition with micro air quality sensors. Using AI technology, it monitors pollution trends and activates an IoT platform to swiftly deploy sprinklers when high pollution levels are detected. The system ensures precise water usage, automatically logs pollution incidents, and facilitates subsequent analysis and strategy formulation.
Saving Energy and Enhancing Environmental Benefits
"This system operates using solar panels as its power source, saving approximately 622 kilowatt-hours of household electricity. The water source is extracted groundwater from construction sites, which would otherwise flow into the ocean through drainage systems. By recycling and reusing this site water, we can prevent the waste of water resources, saving an amount equivalent to the water used in about 17 swimming pools," shared Hsieh Hung-Sung, Technical Specialist, explaining the environmental benefits of the AI Smart Dust Suppression Management System.
In addition to energy and water savings, the fully automated operation reduces the need for manual labor, ensuring 24-hour dust suppression efficiency. This allows construction projects to achieve sustainable development and net-zero carbon emissions during their execution phase, delivering time, water, money, and manpower savings while effectively protecting workers’ health and improving workplace safety. The system not only enhances work efficiency and conserves resources but also possesses a sustainable characteristic of being reusable. Furthermore, its long-term collection of environmental data aids in future precision-driven big data analysis and pollution prevention, making significant contributions to promoting environmentally sustainable development and achieving net-zero carbon emissions in construction projects.
Application in Large-Scale Public Works
"This system was first implemented at the construction site of the Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3 project. It successfully mitigated the dust pollution caused by construction activities and was recognized by the Ministry of Environment as a national demonstration site, inviting environmental protection units from various counties and cities to Taoyuan for observation," said Hsieh Hung-Sung, Technical Specialist, proudly sharing the system's outstanding achievements.
After integrating the AI Construction Dust Smart Sprinkler Management System into the Terminal 3 project, the system effectively balanced air pollution prevention with rapid response to pollution incidents. Its overall performance and setup received high praise, enabling the Department of Environmental Protection to excel in the 2023 National Construction Project Control Performance Evaluation. On March 6, 2024, the Ministry of Environment hosted a National Construction Project Technological Air Pollution Control Management Demonstration and Observation Meeting at the "Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3 Main Terminal Civil Engineering Project" site. Attendees witnessed firsthand the system's effective operation in suppressing air pollution and controlling dust.
Expanded Applications and System Enhancements
"With the successful implementation of this system at the Terminal 3 project of Taoyuan International Airport, the technology has been successfully applied to other projects, including the land acquisition engineering for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, the land acquisition engineering for the Taoyuan Airport MRT A21 Station, and the construction of the new power plant at Datan Power Plant. In the future, we plan to enhance the system's functionality by integrating a visual AI module to more accurately assess dust conditions," explained Hsieh Hung-Sung, Technical Specialist.
As the fastest-growing technology metropolis among Taiwan's six special municipalities, Taoyuan City faces the largest demand for infrastructure nationwide, particularly in aerotropolis development, regional planning, and MRT projects. The Taoyuan City Government is committed to shaping the city's future with four key visions: "Efficient Commuting, Productive Work, Accessible Education, and Quality Living." The goal is to create a superior and pleasant living environment across all sectors, ensuring that Taoyuan becomes a comprehensive international city. Moving forward, the city will continue to enhance the environmental management standards of construction projects through interdepartmental collaboration and public outreach sessions. Taoyuan is actively advancing toward the goal of becoming a net-zero emissions city, ensuring that residents enjoy both a modern urban landscape and excellent air quality.