In mid-2024, Kunshan Duke University completed a comprehensive upgrade of its campus air quality monitoring system. The university introduced Tongdy’s MSD, PMD, and TF9 series multi-parameter air quality monitors, enabling accurate monitoring and intelligent management of air quality across indoor spaces, outdoor areas, and HVAC duct systems.
This project marks a new stage in the university’s green and smart campus development. It also provides a practical and replicable model for higher education institutions seeking to build healthier campus environments through data-driven air quality management.
Project Background
As an international university with a large campus, diverse functional areas, and high levels of daily foot traffic, Kunshan Duke University faces complex challenges in campus environmental management. Classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and public facilities are used at different times and often experience fluctuating occupancy levels.
Against this backdrop, maintaining healthy indoor air quality while reducing building energy consumption has become a key priority for the university.
The air quality monitoring system upgrade centers on three core objectives: health safeguarding, intelligent regulation, and low-carbon operation. Leveraging real-time environmental data, the university can effectively manage air quality across densely populated campus areas, optimize ventilation schemes, and advance the construction of a healthy, smart campus.
Core Technology Solution
The project uses Tongdy MSD and PMD indoor and duct-mounted air quality monitors, together with the TF9 outdoor air quality monitor. These devices were selected for their strong compatibility with large-scale, multi-scenario campus monitoring needs.
The system monitors several key air quality parameters:
Monitoring Parameter Application Value
PM2.5 / PM10 Accurately tracks fine particulate pollution in indoor and outdoor environments
CO2 evaluates ventilation efficiency and comfort levels in high-occupancy areas
TVOC monitors volatile organic compounds in real time and helps assess indoor air cleanliness
Temperature and Humidity support thermal comfort optimization and HVAC system control.
Formaldehyde provides continuous monitoring of harmful gases to protect indoor health and safety.
Tongdy’s MSD and PMD series devices support real-time collection of multiple air quality indicators, including particulate matter, carbon dioxide, TVOC, formaldehyde, temperature, and humidity. The products have obtained several international certifications, including CE, RESET, RoHS, FCC, REACH, and ICES.
Key technical advantages include:
Patented anti-interference technology that reduces the impact of temperature and humidity fluctuations on measurement accuracy
Stable data collection and reliable multi-parameter analysis
Modular hardware design that supports flexible function expansion and future upgrades
Compatibility with multiple communication methods and protocols makes the system suitable for complex campus network environments
Campus-Wide Deployment
The project adopted a grid-based deployment strategy to ensure comprehensive coverage of key campus areas.
Monitoring points were installed across major teaching, research, and public spaces, including classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports fields, green areas, and parking lots. Indoor environments, outdoor public areas, and HVAC duct systems are now connected through an integrated monitoring framework.
The system supports multiple communication methods, including RS485, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 4G, and LoRaWAN. It is also compatible with mainstream BMS and IoT protocols.
Through a centralized management platform, campus facility teams can monitor air quality data in real time, view data visualizations, receive intelligent alerts, and identify abnormal conditions quickly. The data can also be uploaded to the cloud, allowing remote access from both desktop and mobile devices for comparison, analysis, and long-term management.
Project Value
1. Stronger Health Protection for Students and Staff
The system provides automatic alerts when key indicators such as PM2.5, CO2, or formaldehyde exceed preset thresholds. This enables the university to detect potential health risks early and respond quickly.
Based on monitoring data, the campus can dynamically adjust HVAC ventilation strategies, make better use of outdoor fresh air and cooling resources, and improve comfort in high-occupancy spaces.
In laboratory settings, targeted monitoring of harmful gases further strengthens safety management and supports a safer research environment.
2. More Efficient Low-Carbon Campus Operations
Real-time air quality data helps the university optimize the operation of air conditioning and ventilation systems, reducing unnecessary energy use while maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
The data also supports long-term campus planning by helping analyze how traffic flow, green spaces, and building layouts affect air quality. In addition, the monitoring system provides reliable data support for green building certification, healthy campus evaluation, and other international sustainability standards.
Implementation Results
Since the system came into service, Kunshan Duke University has achieved significant improvements in campus air quality management.
Potential indoor air quality issues can now be identified more quickly and addressed through a closed-loop management process. Satisfaction with the campus environment among students and staff has continued to improve. The campus has also reported a decline in respiratory-related clinic visits, while CO2 exceedance in teaching areas has been significantly reduced.
The project has helped the university achieve two important goals: protecting the health of students and staff, and improving building energy efficiency.
Conclusion
With Tongdy’s professional air quality monitoring equipment, Kunshan Duke University has built a campus-wide, intelligent, and efficient air quality management system. The system helps create a healthier, safer, and more comfortable learning and living environment for the entire university community.
The project also offers a mature and replicable reference for higher education institutions worldwide that are working toward green and smart campus development. By applying environmental monitoring technology at scale, Kunshan Duke University demonstrates how universities can take practical action in health protection, sustainability, and social responsibility.
About Tongdy
Tongdy is a global provider of environmental monitoring technology solutions. Its products and services are used in more than 50 countries and regions, for office buildings, educational institutions, supermarkets, retail stores, airports, metro systems, high-end residential buildings, and communities.
Through professional monitoring technology, Tongdy helps smart and green building systems achieve more refined and efficient management.
About Kunshan Duke University
Kunshan Duke University was officially approved on September 17, 2013, and is supervised by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education. It was jointly founded by Duke University, Wuhan University, and the Kunshan Municipal People’s Government.
Positioned as a comprehensive, research-oriented, elite, and international university, Kunshan Duke University is committed to becoming a world-class institution. In 2022, it was recognized by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Science and Technology as the first international cooperative education demonstration zone among Chinese-foreign cooperative universities.
Post time: May-27-2026