Journal:Development of a smart laboratory information management system: A case study of NM-AIST Arusha of Tanzania
| Full article title | Development of a smart laboratory information management system: A case study of NM-AIST Arusha of Tanzania |
|---|---|
| Journal | International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering |
| Author(s) | Mwambe, Edson; Wangere, Joseph N.; Flavian, Daudi; Sinde, Ramadhani |
| Author affiliation(s) | Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology |
| Primary contact | Email: mwambee at nm-aist dot ac dot tz |
| Year published | 2022 |
| Volume and issue | 8(4) |
| Page(s) | 1–14 |
| DOI | 10.31695/IJASRE.2022.8.4.1 |
| ISSN | 2454-8006 |
| Distribution license | Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International |
| Website | https://ijasre.net/index.php/ijasre/article/view/1500 |
| Download | https://ijasre.net/index.php/ijasre/article/view/1500/1921 (PDF) |
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Abstract
Testing laboratories in higher learning institutions of science, technology, and engineering are used by institutional staff, researchers, and external stakeholders in conducting research experiments, sample analysis, and result dissemination. However, there exists a challenge in the management of laboratory operations and processing of laboratory-based data. Operations carried out in the laboratory at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), in Arusha, Tanzania—where this case study was carried out—are paper-based. There is no automated way of sample registration and identification, and researchers are prone to making errors when handling sensitive reagents. Users have to physically visit the laboratory to enquire about available equipment or reagents before borrowing or reserving those resources. Additionally, paper-based forms have to be filled out and handed to the laboratory manager for approval. These manual operations make it difficult to keep track of expiry dates of reagents, stock remaining, storage conditions, software licenses, tools, and data regarding borrowed equipment, as these facets lack automated notification mechanisms.
This study, therefore, was carried out to investigate the development of a smart laboratory information management system (LIMS) integrated with internet of things (IoT) devices, a wireless sensor network (WSN), and radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for real-time monitoring of sample and reagents storage conditions, as well as digital sample identification and tracking. A web application was developed to allow remote access to laboratory information by users. Based on the performance test, it is concluded that WSNs can be integrated with IoT devices to automate recurring tasks in laboratories, aid in monitoring, and eliminate paper-based record keeping.
Keywords: radio frequency identification, wireless sensor network, internet of things, MQTT, ZigBee protocol, ThingSpeak, laboratory information management system
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This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. Some grammar and punctuation was cleaned up to improve readability. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added.
