Built to detect danger before humans can, Smart Mobile Sniffer is UST’s new Internet of Things-powered “electronic nose,” a portable multi-sensor device designed to identify toxic gases in real time and protect workers and communities.
Developed by a UST research team led by Prof. Karen Santiago of the Department of Chemistry and the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, the multi-sensor targets high-risk environments where air quality can change quickly.
The project addresses the growing need for reliable gas monitoring in the Philippines, where sudden gas build-ups in enclosed or industrial spaces have led to worker injuries, emergency evacuations and long-term health risks.
“Real-time gas monitoring is incredibly important today, especially in the Philippine context. We’ve seen past incidents where sudden gas build-ups in enclosed spaces led to worker injuries or emergency evacuations simply because the warning came too late or there was no warning at all,” Santiago told the Varsitarian.
Smart Mobile Sniffer works by integrating a multi-sensor array that can simultaneously detect gases such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and ammonia.
When these gases are present in the environment, the gas concentrations are converted into electrical signals through customized transducers, which are then processed and reflected to a read-out device.
What makes the device “smart,” Santiago said, is its “Internet of Things” or IoT-based wireless system.
IoT refers to a network of physical devices and people connected to the internet, allowing them to interact or communicate.
The sensor system continuously collects data and transmits it in real time, allowing users to remotely monitor, record and receive alerts once gas levels exceed safe limits.
Because it can detect multiple gases simultaneously, the device is not only more efficient and accurate but also saves time and reduces the need for multiple bulky instruments.
Unlike bulky single-gas detectors, the Smart Mobile Sniffer is portable, wireless and capable of detecting multiple gases at once, while featuring safety notifications that make it more user-friendly and cost-effective.
“Our story started with a simple idea, i.e., to detect gases and improve air quality,” Santiago said.
“We began with a single gas sensor that could selectively detect one gas, but soon realized the need for something broader and more impactful. What truly inspired us was seeing how air pollution and gas emissions affect both people and our environment, and wanting to help and do something about it,” she added.
A key turning point came in 2019 during a meeting with the Department of Science and Technology–Research Information and Technology Transfer Division, which pushed the team to think beyond the laboratory and focus on how their technology could reach communities.
Santiago and her team joined programs including the Department of Science and Technology’s “Filinnovation Entrepreneurship Corps” and the Leaders in Innovation Fellowship under the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Asian Institute of Management.
These programs trained the team to think beyond the device’s technical features and focus on potential users.
“Through surveys, interviews, and feedback, we saw the demand for multi-gas detection. And that’s how the Smart Mobile Sniffer, our IoT-based wireless electronic nose that detects multiple gases in real time, was ‘brought to life,’” Santiago said.
In the laboratory, the prototype was subjected to calibration using known gas standards to validate its response and accuracy.
“We also tested our prototype [on] real samples to evaluate its performance, stability, and reliability under varying environmental conditions,” she said.
Beyond immediate workplace safety, Santiago emphasized the device’s role in environmental protection.
Communities living near landfills, industrial zones and geothermal sites often experience fluctuating emissions that can degrade air quality and affect public health.
“With real-time monitoring, these changes can be detected immediately, helping mitigate risks and supporting adherence to DENR air-quality standards,” she said.
The Smart Mobile Sniffer team brings together expertise in chemistry, engineering and innovation management.
Santiago serves as principal investigator, with a research track record in new materials and sensor and actuator development.
Working alongside her is engineer and research assistant Jhon Vic Bardos, who oversees the integration of the device’s IoT-based systems.
Assoc. Prof. Jolleen Natalie Balitaan offeree her specialization in cost-efficient, advanced materials for sensing films, while engineer Celso Noel Aban, manager of the TomasINNO Center, supported the project’s transition from laboratory innovation to market adoption and leads its commercialization efforts.
The project is funded by UST and the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST–PCIEERD), in collaboration with the Energy Development Corp. (EDC).
Other UST innovations
Another Thomasian entry in the same innovation challenge was the Plastic Off-grid Waste to Electronic Revolution (POWER), led by Prof. Myla Santiago-Bautista of the Department of Biochemistry.
POWER uses a microbial fuel cell system that generates bioelectricity while enabling the degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic in bottles and packaging.
Both UST projects were submitted at technology readiness levels four to seven, meaning they have undergone laboratory validation and pilot-scale demonstration and are now considered ready for licensing or commercialization.
For Santiago, the Smart Mobile Sniffer is not just a technical achievement but also a reflection of Thomasian values and Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ to care for “our common home.”
“With our Smart Mobile Sniffer, we have seen how science and compassion can come together to make a difference. And we hope others will join us in this mission toward safer workplaces, cleaner air, and a more sustainable world,” she said.
