VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

BELAGAVI – 590 018

A PROJECT REPORT ON
“Reading Temperature and Relative Humidity value from the sensor”
Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of 8th semester subject IoT [Internet of Things]
(18CS81)
Bachelor of Engineering
In
Computer Science & Engineering

Submitted By:
Akshata (3GN19CS006)
Balaji Patil (3GN20CS015)
Baswa Prasad (3GN20CS016)
Manjappa (3GN20CS037)
Nagraj (3GN20CS057)

Under the guidance of

Dr. PREMALA BHANDE
Assoc. Professor

GURU NANAK DEV ENGINEERING COLLEGE

BIDAR – 585401
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Accredited by NBA, New Delhi
Phone: 08482-226949 Website: www.gndecb.ac.in
 GURU NANAK DEV ENGINEERING COLLEGE
BIDAR – 585401, KARNATAKA

Approved by AICTE, New Delhi & Affiliated to VTU, Belagavi

Phone: 08482- 226949
Website: www.gndecb.ac.in

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the Project Report entitled “Reading Temperature and Relative Humidity
value from the sensor” is a bonafide work carried out by AKSHATA (3GN19CS006),
BALAJI PATIL (3GN20CS015), BASWA PRASAD(3GN20CS016),
MANJAPPA(3GN20CS037) & NAGRAJ (3GN20CS057) in partial fulfillment of the
Internet of Things (18CS81) for 8th semester Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science &
Engineering during the year 2023-24. It is certified that all the corrections/suggestions
indicated for Internal Assessment have been incorporated in the report. The project has been
approved as it satisfies the academic requirements in respect of assignment work prescribed
for the said degree.

Signature of Guide Signature of HOD

(Dr. Premala Bhande) (Dr. Anuradha Annigeri)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project report on "Reading Temperature and Relative Humidity value from the sensor" is
the outcome of guidance, moral support and devotion bestowed on us throughout our work.
For this we acknowledge and express our profound sense of gratitude and thanks to everybody
who have been a source of inspiration during the project work. First and foremost, we offer our
sincere phrases of thanks with innate humility to our Principal Dr. DHANANJAY M, who has
been a constant source of support and encouragement. We feel deeply indebted to our H.O.D.
Dr. ANURADHA ANNIGERI, for right help provided from the time of inception till date. I
would take this opportunity to acknowledge our Guide Dr. PREMALA BHANDE, who not
only stood by us as a source of inspiration, but also dedicated his time to enable us to present
the mini project on time. We would be failing in endeavor, if we do not thank our parents who
have helped us in every aspect of our life.

AKSHATA (3GN19CS006)
BALAJI PATIL (3GN20CS015)
BASWA PRASAD (3GN20CS016)
MANJAPPA (3GN20CS037)
NAGRAJ (3GN20CS057)
 CONTENTS

1. Introduction 1

2. Overview of DHT11 sensor 1

3. Features of DHT11 sensor 2

4. Arduino sketch for DHT11 3

5. Applications 5

6. Conclusion 6
1. INTRODUCTION

Understanding environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity is critical across a

spectrum of applications, spanning from home automation to industrial processes. Temperature
and humidity levels influence factors like human comfort, equipment performance, and product
quality. By monitoring these parameters, individuals and industries can optimize their
environments for efficiency, comfort, and safety.
The DHT11 sensor plays a pivotal role in numerous electronic projects, particularly
those focused on environmental monitoring and control. In conjunction with Arduino, a widely-
used open-source electronics platform, the DHT11 sensor facilitates real-time measurement
and analysis of temperature and humidity levels in various settings.
The DHT11 sensor emerges as a cost-effective and reliable solution for temperature and
humidity measurement. Its digital output and straightforward interface make it accessible to
beginners and professionals alike. The sensor's compact form factor and low power
consumption further enhance its versatility, allowing it to be deployed in various settings
without significant resource overhead.
Arduino serves as the ideal companion for the DHT11 sensor, providing a user-friendly
platform for data acquisition and processing. Arduino's extensive community support, rich
ecosystem of libraries, and ease of programming empower developers to harness the full
potential of the DHT11 sensor in their projects. Whether it's building a weather station,
controlling climate systems, or monitoring environmental conditions in agricultural settings,
the combination of DHT11 and Arduino offers a robust and adaptable solution.

2. OVERVIEW OF DHT11 SENSOR

 Operating Principles
The DHT11 sensor employs a combination of a capacitive humidity sensor and a thermistor to
measure temperature and humidity accurately. The capacitive humidity sensor detects changes
in relative humidity by measuring the capacitance changes in a thin polymer film. Meanwhile,
the thermistor, a type of resistor whose resistance varies with temperature, allows precise
temperature measurements. These two components work in tandem to provide reliable digital
output representing both temperature and humidity readings. This digital output simplifies data
processing and integration with microcontrollers like Arduino, eliminating the need for
complex analog signal processing.

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  Technical Specifications
Understanding the technical specifications of the DHT11 sensor is crucial for selecting the
appropriate sensor for a given application. The sensor offers a temperature measurement range
of 0°C to 50°C with an accuracy of ±2°C and a humidity measurement range of 20% to 90%
RH with an accuracy of ±5% RH. These specifications make the DHT11 sensor suitable for a
wide range of environmental monitoring applications, from indoor climate control to outdoor
weather stations. Additionally, the sensor operates within a voltage range of 3.3V to 5V DC,
making it compatible with common microcontroller power supplies.

3. FEATURES OF DHT11 SENSOR

a. Measurement Range
Temperature: 0°C to 50°C with ±2°C accuracy
Humidity: 20% to 90% RH with ±5% RH accuracy
b. Operating Voltage: 3.3V to 5V DC
c. Single-Wire Interface
d. Low Power Consumption
e. Compact Size

Fig. 1 & 2: Connections of sensor with breadboard

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4. ARDUINO SKETCH FOR DHT11

The Arduino sketch provided in the report serves as the software implementation to read data
from the DHT11 sensor and display it on the serial monitor. We can understand this through
following points:

a. Initialization and Setup

The sketch begins by including the DHT library and defining the pin and sensor type. In the
setup() function, serial communication is initialized, and the DHT sensor is prepared for data
retrieval.

b. Main Loop
Within the loop() function, a 2-second delay is introduced to regulate sensor readings.
Temperature and humidity values are then read from the sensor and printed to the serial monitor
for real-time observation.
Understanding the code's initialization, setup, and main loop provides insight into how it
interacts with the DHT11 sensor and serial communication, facilitating potential modifications
or extensions for specific project requirements.

Fig.3: Running of output through code in Arduino

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Fig.4: Snippet of code used

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5. APPLICATIONS

Here are a few applications of the sensors in our daily life usage and professional fields.

a. Home Automation
In home automation projects, the DHT11 sensor integrated with Arduino can be utilized to
monitor indoor temperature and humidity levels. This data can then be used to control heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for optimal comfort and energy efficiency.
Additionally, the sensor's readings can trigger actions such as activating humidifiers or
dehumidifiers to maintain a healthy indoor environment.

b. Agriculture
The DHT11 sensor finds applications in agriculture for monitoring environmental conditions
in greenhouses, nurseries, and agricultural fields. By tracking temperature and humidity levels,
farmers can optimize growing conditions for crops, prevent diseases caused by excessive
moisture, and automate irrigation systems based on real-time data. This enables efficient water
usage and enhances crop yields.

c. Weather Stations
Building DIY weather stations is another popular application of the DHT11 sensor with
Arduino. By collecting temperature and humidity data, along with additional sensors for
parameters like atmospheric pressure and rainfall, enthusiasts can create personalized weather
monitoring systems. These weather stations can provide valuable insights into local weather
patterns and aid in forecasting.

d. Industrial Automation
In industrial settings, the DHT11 sensor can be employed for environmental monitoring in
manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and storage areas. By maintaining optimal temperature
and humidity conditions, businesses can preserve the quality of sensitive products, prevent
equipment malfunctions due to moisture, and ensure worker comfort and safety.

e. HVAC Systems Optimization

The integration of DHT11 sensors with HVAC systems allows for dynamic climate control
based on real-time environmental data. By adjusting heating, cooling, and ventilation
parameters in response to temperature and humidity fluctuations, energy consumption can be
optimized without compromising comfort levels. This leads to cost savings and reduced
environmental impact.

f. Education and Research

The DHT11 sensor serves as an educational tool for students and researchers interested in
learning about environmental monitoring and data analysis. By conducting experiments and
projects with the sensor, individuals can gain hands-on experience in sensor interfacing, data
acquisition, and programming with Arduino. This fosters a deeper understanding of concepts
related to physics, engineering, and computer science.

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 Fig. 5 & 6: Demonstration of result of DHT11 sensor

6. CONCLUSION

To summarize, the combination of the Arduino and the DHT11 temperature and humidity
sensor offers a valuable and accessible tool for a wide range of uses. With its precise and
dependable measurements, compact design, and cost-effectiveness, this sensor allows users to
easily monitor environmental conditions. This report provides a comprehensive overview,
including technical specifications, setup procedures, sample code, and practical applications,
giving readers the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively utilize the sensor's
capabilities. Whether it's optimizing home comfort, improving agricultural productivity,
creating weather monitoring systems, or enhancing industrial processes, the DHT11 sensor
with Arduino serves as a versatile platform for innovation and experimentation. By embracing
this technology, enthusiasts, professionals, and educators can undertake projects that tackle
real-world challenges and contribute to the advancement of science, engineering, and
technology.