Low-Cost IoT Solutions for Environmental Monitoring in Urban Slums: A 2010 Replication Study in Mauritius

This study builds upon previous research conducted in Mauritius in to explore low-cost Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for environmental monitoring in urban slums. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys, interviews with stakeholders, and an analysis of existing IoT solutions to assess their applicability and effectiveness in urban slums. Data were collected from 50 randomly selected urban slum areas across Mauritius. The findings indicate that a combination of low-cost sensors (costing up to $10 each) for air quality monitoring, water contamination detection, and temperature regulation can be successfully deployed with an overall success rate of 85% in the sampled areas. This replication study confirms the viability of IoT solutions as a cost-effective tool for environmental monitoring in urban slums. The success rate observed is indicative of their potential to improve living conditions and public health in resource-limited settings. The recommendations include the need for further research into the long-term sustainability of these low-cost sensors, as well as the establishment of a framework for community engagement to ensure equitable distribution and use of the technology. Model estimation used θ̂=argminθ∑ᵢ(yᵢ,f_θ(xᵢ))+λθ₂², with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.