What Is Planetwatch Crypto?

PlanetWatch is a decentralized environmental monitoring service that aims to provide individuals with the opportunity to contribute to global air quality management while earning cryptocurrency rewards.

The company was founded in 2018 by Claudio Parrinello, formally of the CERN research laboratory in Switzerland. PlanetWatch’s goal is to create a network of air quality sensors around the world and make the data openly available. This will allow individuals, organizations, and governments to monitor and understand local air pollution in real-time.

The network runs on blockchain technology and is incentivized through cryptocurrency tokens. Those who contribute sensors to the network are rewarded with tokens for providing data. The transparent and immutable data from PlanetWatch sensors can then be harnessed to drive environmental action.

Table of Contents

Overview of PlanetWatch

PlanetWatch is an environmental monitoring company founded in 2018 and headquartered in Switzerland. It was started by founders Claudio Parrinello and Sebastiano Picardo who came from backgrounds in physics and engineering.

Parrinello previously founded the Internet of Things (IoT) startup SenseSquare, while Picardo worked at CERN researching particle detectors. Together they combined their expertise to create PlanetWatch, with the goal of building a global network of air quality sensors powered by crowdsourcing and blockchain technology.

PlanetWatch aims to motivate people to acquire low-cost air quality monitoring sensors, which are connected through the Algorand blockchain. In exchange for collecting environmental data, participants are rewarded with PlanetWatch’s PLANET crypto tokens.

PlanetWatch’s Environmental Monitoring

PlanetWatch specializes in environmental monitoring, particularly air quality monitoring. The project aims to deploy sensors across the globe to collect real-time air quality data. Anyone can purchase certified air quality sensors, such as the Awair or Kaiterra Laser Egg sensor, and register them on the PlanetWatch platform.

Once registered, the sensors will begin transmitting air quality data to PlanetWatch’s monitoring network automatically. The data includes measurements of various pollutants and environmental parameters like particulates (PM2.5 and PM10), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2), humidity, temperature, and more.

PlanetWatch aggregates and analyzes this data to create dynamic air quality maps and scores for locations around the world. The project aims to use blockchain technology and crowd-sourced environmental monitoring to build transparent global air quality data.

Importantly, all PlanetWatch sensors must pass rigorous certification standards for data accuracy. This emphasis on data reliability via certified hardware is a key part of enabling decentralized air quality monitoring.

The PLANET Cryptocurrency

The PLANET token is the native cryptocurrency of the PlanetWatch ecosystem. It is built on the Algorand blockchain and serves several key functions:

Firstly, PLANET is used as a reward token to incentivize people to contribute air quality data to the network. When PlanetWatch sensor owners connect their devices to the network, they earn PLANET tokens in return for the data they generate. This creates a continuous stream of environmental data that powers PlanetWatch’s services.

Secondly, PLANET can be used to pay for ecosystem services provided by PlanetWatch, such as accessing filtered air quality data feeds. Organizations that want to leverage PlanetWatch’s data pay in PLANET, creating demand for the token.

Thirdly, PLANET facilitates governance of the network through staking and voting. Network stakeholders can stake PLANET to participate in governance polls and steer the ecosystem’s development.

Overall, the PLANET token incentivizes user participation, powers ecosystem services, and enables decentralized governance for PlanetWatch. Its multi-faceted utility makes PLANET fundamental to achieving PlanetWatch’s aim of building an open global air quality network.

PLANET Rewards Program

One of the most innovative aspects of PlanetWatch is the PLANET rewards program. This program incentivizes people to contribute to the PlanetWatch ecosystem by rewarding them with PLANET tokens for taking various actions.

The main way users can earn PLANET is by purchasing and deploying air quality monitoring sensors. After purchasing a sensor, users can register it on the PlanetWatch platform and connect it to the Internet to begin streaming real-time air quality data. For each hour a sensor streams data to PlanetWatch, the owner earns a certain amount of PLANET tokens based on the sensor type.

PlanetWatch offers several types of sensors at different price points and PLANET earning rates. The entry-level sensor is the Awair, which earns around 0.1 PLANET per hour. The most advanced and highest earning sensor is the Atmotube Pro, which earns around 0.6 PLANET per hour.

In addition to earning from sensors, users can also earn PLANET tokens by connecting to Algorand governance, inviting others, being active in the PlanetWatch community, and participating in special PlanetWatch events and campaigns.

The PLANET rewards serve as a recurring passive income stream for sensor owners while also providing the sensor data needed to build out the PlanetWatch global environmental monitoring network.

Algorand Blockchain

PlanetWatch chose to build its network on top of the Algorand blockchain due to Algorand’s unique technical features that align with PlanetWatch’s environmental goals.

Algorand utilizes a “pure proof-of-stake” consensus mechanism that is far more energy efficient than proof-of-work blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. By leveraging Algorand, the PlanetWatch network only requires a tiny fraction of the energy compared to those alternatives, making it much more environmentally sustainable.

Additionally, Algorand provides immediate transaction finality, meaning transactions are confirmed in seconds rather than minutes or hours. This enables real-time data flows for PlanetWatch’s air quality monitoring network while still maintaining decentralization and immutability.

Furthermore, Algorand’s scalability via state partitioning allows it to handle the massive throughput required for PlanetWatch’s global sensor network. Where other blockchains would become congested, Algorand is capable of easily processing millions of transactions per day.

For these reasons, Algorand was the clear choice blockchain platform for realizing PlanetWatch’s vision of a decentralized air quality monitoring network that aligns with their environmental principles.

PlanetWatch Partnerships

PlanetWatch has established partnerships and integrations with various organizations and companies to further its environmental monitoring mission:

PlanetWatch works with the Algorand Foundation, leveraging the Algorand blockchain for its PLANET crypto rewards program.

PlanetWatch partners with several sensor manufacturers like Kaiterra and Atmotube to provide certified air quality monitoring devices to its community.
PlanetWatch works with decentralized oracle provider Diper to enable reliable and tamper-proof data feeds from its sensor network.
PlanetWatch has teamed up with data analytics provider Big Data Value Association (BDVA) to analyze and derive insights from its crowd-sourced environmental data.

PlanetWatch collaborates with the government of Côte d’Ivoire to monitor air quality across the country using its sensor network.

These partnerships enable PlanetWatch to expand its global sensor network and leverage blockchain technology to incentivize environmental monitoring.

PlanetWatch Use Cases

Planetwatch offers a number of exciting real-world use cases for its decentralized air quality monitoring network and PLANET token ecosystem:

Citizen Science

By connecting air quality sensors to the Planetwatch network, individuals can contribute valuable environmental data as citizen scientists. This helps empower people to take an active role in monitoring their local air quality.

Pollution Accountability

The data gathered via Planetwatch’s sensors can provide localized air quality insights not available before. This enables identifying pollution hotspots and holding corporations/governments accountable.

Health Studies

Planetwatch’s granular air quality data enables new kinds of epidemiological studies on the health effects of pollution. Doctors/researchers can analyze correlations between pollution and public health.

Supply Chain Tracking

Planetwatch’s sensors allow assets like medicine or food to be tracked end-to-end for exposure to air contaminants. This verifies handling/storage conditions.

Climate Change Research

The atmospheric monitoring performed by Planetwatch provides data to better study climate change patterns and the relationship between air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.

Future Roadmap

PlanetWatch has an exciting roadmap planned for the future as it continues to expand its air quality monitoring network and integrate blockchain technology. Here are some of the key upcoming milestones and developments to look out for:

New Sensor Models – PlanetWatch plans to release additional sensor models beyond its existing Type 1, 2, 3 and 4 sensors. The new sensors will likely measure additional pollutants like NO2, CO2, and particulates. Expanding the sensor models will increase the air quality data collected.

Improved Data Analytics – PlanetWatch intends to enhance its data analytics capabilities by developing more robust statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and visualizations. This will provide deeper insights into air quality trends.

Partnerships – Strategic partnerships with environmental agencies, health organizations, and smart city initiatives will help drive adoption of PlanetWatch’s monitoring network. Partnerships lend credibility.

Decentralized Data Marketplace – PlanetWatch aims to launch a decentralized data marketplace where individuals can sell their air quality data to interested parties like research institutions in exchange for PLANET tokens.

New Use Cases – PlanetWatch is exploring additional use cases for its technology beyond air quality monitoring like monitoring noise pollution in cities.

Conclusion

In summary, PlanetWatch is an innovative project leveraging blockchain technology and IoT sensors to build a decentralized global network for environmental monitoring. Through the rewards program that pays users in PLANET tokens to operate air quality monitoring sensors, PlanetWatch incentivizes participation in generating valuable environmental data.

PlanetWatch’s goal of making environmental data open and transparent could have important implications for public health and policymaking. By decentralizing and democratizing environmental monitoring, PlanetWatch aims to empower citizens and communities to take part in understanding and improving air quality.

With partnerships with Algorand, CERN, and other organizations, PlanetWatch is continuing to expand the reach and capabilities of its network. As the project progresses through its roadmap, PlanetWatch has the potential to fundamentally transform how we monitor, analyze, and act on environmental data worldwide.