Chiang mai: "Yotchanan" visits Chiang Mai and orders the commissioning of a "fully integrated dust-free room" built by Thai engineers. Yotsanan visited Chiang Mai and ordered the commencement of operations for a Thai-made "complete dust-free room" costing 3,600 baht per room. A pilot project will install these rooms in 83 vulnerable locations across 8 northern provinces to help combat PM 2.5 pollution.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Mr. Yotsanu Wongsawat, along with Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Mr. Nikorn Somklang, led a delegation of high-ranking officials, local administrators, the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization President, and Pheu Thai Party parliamentary candidates from Chiang Mai to launch and install a "fully integrated dust-free room," an innovation developed by Thai researchers from Chiang Mai University, at Baan Wiang Ping Children's Home in Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai. This initiative aims to provide tangible assistance to vulnerable groups in northern Thailand in combating the PM2.5 crisis, at a cost of only 3,600 baht per room.
Before the inspection, Mr. Yotsanan personally used a portable air quality monitor to check outdoor air quality. He found particulate matter levels soaring to 150-180 micrograms per cubic meter, a critical level that directly affects public health, amidst the thick smoke covering Chiang Mai province. He emphasized that this situation cannot wait and requires immediate action using practical technology.
Mr. Yotsanan revealed that the government is pursuing two parallel approaches. In the short term, it's using Thai-made technology to solve problems for Thai people at an affordable price. This includes the "Complete Dust-Free Room," a research project from Chiang Mai University (CMU), led by Professor Emeritus Dr. Suwat Jariyalertsak, Faculty of Public Health, CMU, and Dr. Wipoo Rujopakar, Director of the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand. This room comprises three main components: a positive pressure system, a DIY air purifier, and an IoT dust sensor. These components work together to both replenish fresh air and remove dust within the room. It can be immediately installed in existing buildings, and knowledge will be transferred to local communities and technicians for production and maintenance, ensuring a real and sustainable solution in the area. In the long term, the government will continue to use deep tech to investigate the root causes of dust pollution, develop a real-time wildfire detection system, and other technologies developed in collaboration with real-world users, especially volunteer firefighters. The goal is to have these systems operational within one year to reduce dust pollution at its source. The first phase will expand the "Complete Dust-Free Room" to 83 locations in 8 northern provinces to care for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients, with the next phase aiming for nationwide expansion in the near future. To systematically improve the quality of life for Thai people by addressing air pollution, Mr. Yoschanan and his team traveled to the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) in Mae Rim District for a meeting to integrate approaches to solving the problem and mitigating particulate matter pollution in the northern region.
During the meeting, Mr. Yotsanan stated that Thailand, particularly Chiang Mai, has long had the potential to produce innovative solutions to air pollution problems, known as "Made in Chiang Mai." This should be supported as formal infrastructure for sustainable solutions, emphasizing the application of science and technology in local work. Examples include positive pressure rooms and inexpensive DIY dust-control nets, easily accessible to the general public and vulnerable groups. He also suggested leveraging vocational schools, Rajamangala University of Technology, and Rajabhat universities as core institutions to immediately support community implementation.
Furthermore, the policy emphasizes the use of molecular-level data and AI technology to more accurately analyze the origins of dust and wildfire hotspots through cross-ministerial collaboration, including the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, prioritizing public health. Regarding legislation, the government is pleased to expedite its enactment to cover all sectors as soon as possible. However, while awaiting legislation, all agencies can immediately begin addressing the problems using existing innovations and databases.
Mr. Nikorn stated that addressing the PM2.5 dust problem is a top priority policy of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Resources (MSDHR), which aims to protect vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. This will be achieved through expanding the "dust-free room" initiative in various welfare institutions nationwide, particularly in the eight northern provinces with urgent needs (Quick Win), totaling 83 locations. The MSDHR will integrate its efforts with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) to bring innovation to create safe spaces. Rapid Response Units (RRUs) will also be deployed to remote areas, with plans to expand coverage to over 2.3 million vulnerable people in 17 northern provinces to prevent health problems and sustainably improve their quality of life.