Dr Leshan Uggalla
Outdoor air quality has a significant impact on public health and the environment. Exposure to air pollution can cause a range of respiratory and cardiovascular health issues, including asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease. Poor air quality can also have a negative impact on crop yields and natural ecosystems.
A team at USW developed a low-cost, long-life and accurate air quality monitoring network in collaboration with the Welsh government, Rhonda Cynon Taff (RCT) borough council, Welsh Institue for Digital Information (WIDI) and Respiratory Innovations Wales (RIW) that could change the way authorities react to the challenges caused by air pollution. These systems are essential because they can provide real-time data on pollution levels in areas where traditional monitoring systems may not be available. This can help individuals and communities make informed decisions about outdoor activities and reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. Additionally, low-cost platforms can be deployed on a larger scale, providing a more comprehensive picture of air quality across a region or city.
The team’s collaborative work was short-listed for the IET (Institute for Engineering Technology) Impact in Society Awards 2023.
About the speaker
Dr Leshan is a Senior Lecturer of Electronics and Telecommunications for the faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science at the University of South Wales (USW) and a Research Lead for the Wales Institute of Digital Information (WIDI), a collaboration between the University of South Wales, the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, and Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). Also, Leshan serves as the secretary for the IET (Institute for Engineering Technology) Wales Southeast network.
Leshan’s research interests are diverse and range from next-generation mobile systems (5G, 6G), IoT technologies and platforms, propagation modelling at higher frequencies (mm-wave), satellite communications and payload systems, Space Surveillance Awareness (SSA) techniques, coating thickness measurements, Smart rural health care solutions, Hybrid rocket propulsions and related technologies.