The Development of an Arduino-based Decibel Meter for Mufflers

Abstract

The Arduino-based Decibel Meter for Mufflers was developed to mobilize the roadside operations of the Land Transportation Office and Local Government Units in controlling the noise pollution emitted by motor vehicles with modified and defective mufflers. It was also developed to strengthen the capacity of LTO and LGUs in implementing the Muffler Act of 2016, an act prohibiting the use of motor vehicles without mufflers or those that are defective or have been modified which increase the sound emitted by motor vehicles, penalizing owners and drivers that contribute to noise pollution in the environment. The researchers used the developmental type of research which employed thorough planning and analysis to achieve the objectives of the studies. The prototype has a mobile application that enables the prototype to sense the sound level of the motor vehicle being tested, capture the plate number, and locate the whereabouts of the vehicle in real-time and send the report via SMS (Short Message Service). Thus, locally available materials were used in the fabrication of the prototype such as Arduino Nano microcontroller, sound sensor, serial camera, SD card module and HC-05 Bluetooth module. The mobile application was developed using Basic4Andriod software. The developed prototype was tested for its accuracy and functionality. The result of the accuracy test showed that the reading of the sound level of the prototype was 98% accurate as compared to the reading of the sound level meter used by an authorized government agency. Moreover, the functionality test of the device showed that the serial camera, SD card, and Bluetooth were operational. Its performance was evaluated by ten (10) IT experts and programmers, and ten (10) possible end-users which composed of police officers, LTO officers, and other law enforcement agency. The evaluation conducted was based according to its economy, functionality, quality, safety and user interface design. As a result, the prototype gained an overall mean score of 4.35 with a descriptive rating of “Excellent” which signified that the prototype met its objectives and the evaluators were satisfied to the outcome and capabilities of the Adruino-based Decibel Meter for Mufflers.