Sustainable Technology

Sustainable Technology is a dynamic and impactful research area that is leveraging modern engineering and computational methods to tackle critical environmental and societal challenges. Researchers at AOT are developing intelligent, data-driven systems to improve efficiency and reduce harm across multiple domains. For example, machine learning models are being created to classify influent sewage water quality, allowing wastewater treatment plants to optimize energy consumption and minimize the generation of harmful by-products like CO₂ and NO₂. This not only enhances the efficiency of the treatment process but also reduces its overall environmental footprint.

Researchers:

Dr. Jhumpa De (ME Department)
Dr. Hiranmoy Mandal (EEE Department)
Mr. Suman Goswami (CSE Department)
Dr. Sirshendu Saha (EEE Department)

Projects:

Problem Description: Performance analysis of the filtration unit and the storage system with the filtration unit using Statistical and Machine Learning based predictive modeling and through Optimization using Biology inspired Optimizer algorithm. Development of a briquetting machine to manufacture briquettes from agricultural waste maintaining a proper concentration of the elements used. The optimal concentrations were obtained considering maximization of calorific value and minimization of ash content in briquette manufacturing.

Focus of Research:

To design the air filtration system for destroying the bacterial colony in minimum time.
The shelf-life of fruits and vegetables was enhanced by using an economic storage system.
To develop briquettes with proper mixture of elements to reduce environmental pollution and to make alternate sources of fuel. The economic briquetting machine was developed to reduce the cost of briquette-making

Publications:

Niloy Ghosh, Jhumpa De, and Amit Roy Chowdhury, Shelf life enhancement technique of Musa acuminata in a controlled environment and optimization of process parameters affecting shelf life using genetic algorithm, Journal of Food Science, vol. 89, issue 1 pp. 390-403, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.16811

N. Ghosh, J. De and A. R. Choudhury, Experimentation and Mathematical Modelling of Process Parameters for Prevention of Infectious Disease Caused by Staphylococcus aureus Bacteria in Indoor Environment, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, vol. 234, no. 5, pp.317, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06333-5
De, Jhumpa, Sk Masidur Rahaman, Pranabesh Dey, Asad Ansari, Debaditya Bal, and Sk Masudur Rahaman, Parametric Optimization of Energy Characteristics of Agricultural Waste Briquettes, International Conference on Mechanical Engineering, pp. 347-357, Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-7308-4_25

Student Projects:

Title: Parametric Optimization of Energy Characteristics of Agricultural Waste Briquettes

Students: Sk Masidur Rahaman, Pranabesh Dey, Asad Ansari, Debaditya Bal, and Sk Masudur Rahaman

Supervisor: Dr. Jhumpa De (ME Department)

Year: 2023 – 2024

Problem Description: In modern industries, precise measurement of process variables is essential for ensuring product quality, reducing operational costs, and maintaining safety standards. Sensors and transducers are key components in this process, as they convert physical variables into electrical signals for efficient monitoring and control. With the transition from analog to digital systems, microcontrollers and computers have become the core components of modern instrumentation. However, the overall accuracy of such systems still depends on the performance of the sensing elements. Therefore, the development of smart instrumentation systems requires accurate sensing and measurement of key process variables such as temperature, pressure, level, displacement and flow. These systems incorporate smart sensors with IoT capabilities to enable real-time data acquisition, display and remote monitoring. Due to their enhanced functionality and reliability, such systems have wide applications in process automation, environmental monitoring, and solid waste management.

Focus of Research:

Integrating sensors, transducers, and microcontroller-based processing units with IoT capabilities for real-time data monitoring and control.
Evaluating the performance of proposed systems based on key parameters such as sensitivity, linearity, resolution, and repeatability.
Improving the reliability, efficiency, and industrial applicability of modern measurement and instrumentation systems.

Publications:

H.Mandal and J. Nagaraju, GaAs/Ge and Silicon solar cell capacitance measurement using triangular wave method, Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, Elsevier Science, ISSN: 0927-0248, vol. 91, no. 8, pp. 696–700, May 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2006.12.008
S.C. Bera, H. Mandal, S. Saha, and A. Dutta, Study of a modified capacitance-type level transducer for any type of liquid, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 63, no.3, pp. 641-649, March 2014. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2013.2282194
H. Mandal, S.K. Bera, S. Saha, P.K. Sadhu, and S.C. Bera, Study of a modified LVDT type displacement transducer with unlimited range, IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 18, no. 23, pp. 9501-9514, December, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2018.2872510
S. Saha, S.K. Bera, H. Mandal, P.K. Sadhu, and S.C. Bera, Study of an accurate electronic power measurement technique using modified current transformer and potential transformer, Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, SAGE, ISSN: 0142-3312, vol. 41, no. 13, pp. 3666–3678, March 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/0142331219835010
S. Saha, S.K. Bera, H. Mandal, P.K. Sadhu, and S.C. Bera, A temperature compensated non-contact pressure transducer using hall sensor and bourdon tube, IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 19, no. 14, pp. 5429-5438, July, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2019.2904767
A. Dutta, S.K. Bera, S. Saha, H. Mandal, C. Dey, and S.C. Bera, Study of a noncontact flow transducer using semicylindrical capacitive sensor, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 70, 2021, Art. seq. no. 9501910. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2020.3024027
H. Mandal, U. Mondal, and S.C. Bera, Study of a modified obstruction free pressure sensor based flow transducer using hall sensors, Instrumentation Mesure Métrologie, IIETA, ISSN: 1631-4670, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 143-151, June 2021. https://doi.org/10.18280/i2m.200304
H. Mandal and S.C. Bera, An improved technique of measurement of liquid level in a storage tank, Proceedings of IEEE First International Conference on Automation, Control, Energy and Systems (ACES) 2014, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-7, February 1-2, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACES.2014.6808028
H. Mandal and S. Saha, An improved technique of capacitance measurement of solar cells, Proceedings of IEEE Third International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2015, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-4, February 7-8, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/C3IT.2015.7060204
T.K. Bera, A. Chowdhury, H. Mandal, K. Kar, A. Halder, and J. Nagaraju, Thin domain wide electrode (TDWE) phantoms for electrical impedance tomography (EIT), Proceedings of IEEE Third International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2015, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-5, February 7-8, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1109/C3IT.2015.7060223
H. Mandal, S. Saha, T.K. Bera, and S.C. Bera, Study of a modified design of LVIT as displacement transducer with extension of linear zone, Proceedings of IEEE Fourth International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2024, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-7, September 28-29, 2024. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829406

S. Saha, H. Mandal, S. Das, and S.C. Bera, Study of a bourdon tube-hall sensor based non-contact smart pressure transmitter, Proceedings of IEEE Fourth International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2024, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-8, September 28-29, 2024. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829481
A. Kar, A. Upadhyay, P. Chakraborty, S. Sweta, M. Sadukhan, H. Mandal, and S. Saha, Optimization of waste monitoring and controlling using smart bin, Proceedings of IEEE Fourth International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2024, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-7, September 28-29, 2024. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829421
A. Singh, A. Banerjee, S. Chatterjee, H. Das, N. Das, S. Saha, and H. Mandal, Sustainable smart trash bin based waste segregation and collection system, Proceedings of IEEE Fourth International Conference on Computer, Communication, Control and Information Technology (C3IT) 2024, Academy of Technology, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-7, September 28-29, 2024. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10829486

Student Projects:

Title: Optimization of Waste Monitoring and Controlling Using Smart Bin

Students: Arijeet Kar, Aniruddha Upadhyay, Pradipta Chakraborty, Sk Sweta, and Moupriya Sadukhan.

Supervisor: Dr. Hiranmoy Mandal (EEE Department)

Year: 2024-2025

Problem Description:

Proper waste disposal is essential for a clean, secure workplace. Wastewater treatment plays a vital role in protecting the ecosystem, but involves complex, energy-intensive processes that may emit harmful by-products like CO₂ and NO₂. Key sewage water parameters include Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), ammonia, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). This research proposes a classification model to accurately assess influent water quality, helping treatment plants optimize resource usage and improve the efficiency and sustainability of wastewater management.

Focus of Research:

To develop a machine learning-based classification model that can assess influent sewage water quality based on key parameters—ammonia, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Total Suspended Solids (TSS).
To optimize energy consumption in wastewater treatment plants by identifying contamination levels early and adjusting operational resources (like aeration) accordingly.
To reduce environmental impact by minimizing unnecessary microbial overactivity that leads to the generation of greenhouse gases during over-treatment.

Publications:

Goswami, S, Panja, S, Dasgupta, S, Pal, A., Influent Sewage Water Classification Using Machine Learning, Computational Intelligence in Communications and Business Analytics, CICBA 2024, Communications in Computer and Information Science, Vol. 2367. Springer, Cham., 2025. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-81339-9_25#citeas

Problem Description:

Accurate sensing and control are vital in both industrial and societal applications, yet conventional analog instrumentation systems often suffer from limited accuracy, low precision, poor scalability, and high susceptibility to environmental noise and signal interference. With the growing demand for real-time, remote, and reliable monitoring, there is a critical need for advanced sensor-based systems. By integrating IoT, data analytics, and automation, modern instrumentation can overcome these limitations, offering adaptive, efficient, and intelligent solutions. This shift is essential for improving performance in areas such as environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, waste management, healthcare, and industrial automation, thereby enhancing overall operational and societal outcomes.

Focus of Research:

How can advanced sensor-based systems be designed to improve measurement accuracy, reduce noise interference, and ensure scalability compared to conventional analog instrumentation?
What methods can be employed to effectively integrate IoT, embedded systems, and data analytics for real-time monitoring, data visualization, intelligent control, and automation in diverse application domains?
How can application-specific, intelligent instrumentation solutions be developed to improve efficiency, adaptability, and decision-making, addressing the distinct needs of sectors such as environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, healthcare, waste management, and industrial automation?

Publications:

S. Saha, S. K. Bera, S. Pal, and S. C. Bera, Study of a Modified Non-Contact Hall Sensor-Based Flow Transducer Using Centrifugal and Momentum Force Principle, ISA Transactions, Elsevier Science, Vol. 119, pp. 242-251, January 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isatra.2021.02.026
S. Saha, S. C. Bera, An Improved Technique of Measurement of High A.C. Voltage, Proceedings of IEEE First International Conference on Automation, Control, Energy and Systems (ACES), Academy of Technology, Adisaptagram, Hooghly, India, pp. 1-9, February 1-2, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACES.2014.6808029