Design and Simulation of an Electronic Thermal Data Acquisition Device for the Characterization of Building Materials

International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT) ISSN: 2249-8958 (Online), Volume-15 Issue-2, December 2025 15 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP) © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.B472515021225 DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.B4725.15021225 Journal Website: www.ijeat.org Design and Simulation of an Electronic Thermal Data Acquisition Device for the Characterization of Building Materials Macodou Thiam, Wahabo Ouedraogo, Oumar Idriss Hamid, Mory Coulibaly, Daouda Wade Kane, Salif Gaye Abstract: The energy optimisation of buildings relies heavily on an accurate understanding of the thermophysical properties of building materials. However, in many developing countries the characterization of these materials remains limited by the high cost and scarcity of measuring instruments. In this perspective, we first designed, realized and experimentally validated a device for the simultaneous measurement of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of building materials [1], [2]. With these results, the present study introduces the design and simulation of an autonomous electronic thermal data-acquisition device intended to improve the accuracy and autonomy of the initial system. The proposed device is based on an Arduino Due and integrates a temperature sensor (MCP9600), a real-time clock (DS3231), a 20x4 LCD, and an SD Card storage module. The simulation, performed in Proteus, validated the functional consistency of the circuit and the communication between the different modules via the I2C and SPI interfaces. The results demonstrate stable acquisition and reliable real-time temperature recording. This work aligns with efforts to develop affordable, robust, and reproducible measurement instruments tailored to the specific needs of African energy and materials science research laboratories [6]. Keywords: Electronic Device, Thermo-Physical Characterization, Data Acquisition, Arduino, Thermal Conductivity, Thermal Diffusivity. Manuscript received on 20 November 2025 | First Revised Manuscript received on 28 November 2025 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 06 December 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 December 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 December 2025. *Correspondence Author(s) Macodou Thiam*, Department of Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E), University Institute of Technology, Iba Der Thiam University, Thies, Senegal. Email ID: [email protected], ORCID ID: 0009-0003-7881-1938 Wahabo Ouedraogo, Doctoral Student, Department of Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E), University Institute of Technology, Iba Der Thiam University, Thies, Senegal. Email ID: [email protected] Oumar Idriss Hamid, Professor, Department of Technical Sciences, University of Ndjamena, Ndjamena (Tchad), Chad. Email ID: [email protected] Mory Coulibaly, Researcher, Department of Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E), University Institute of Technology, Iba Der Thiam University, Senegal, Thies, Email ID: [email protected] Daouda Wade Kane, Department of Alga Parc Industriel SARL, Diourbel, Senegal. Email ID: [email protected] Salif Gaye, Professor, Department of Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E), University Institute of Technology, Iba Der Thiam University, Thies, Senegal. Email ID: [email protected] © The Authors. Published by Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ I.INTRODUCTION Mastering the energy performance of buildings has become a global priority in response to the challenges posed by climate change. In developing countries, the building sector accounts for a significant share of total energy consumption, underscoring the need to create materials with high thermal efficiency and low environmental impact [3] [4]. Precise knowledge of the thermo-physical properties of materials, in particular thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, is essential for their integration into heat transfer models [5]. However, existing measuring devices are generally expensive, complex and inaccessible to most African laboratories [7] [8] [9] [10]. The objective of this work is therefore to design and simulate an autonomous, modular and low-cost electronic device capable of acquiring and recording thermal data in real time. II. METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN OF THE DEVICE A. General Architecture The device (Figure 1) is based on a modular architecture comprising seven main subsystems: the Arduino Due board, the MCP9600 sensor, the DS3231 real-time clock, the 20x4 LCD module, the SD storage module, the regulated power supply module, and the user interface. Temperature signals are acquired from thermocouples placed at different points of the sample. The MCP9600 converts these analogue signals into digital values before processing and storage. [Fig.1: Synoptic Diagrams of the Measuring Device] B. Electronic Diagram and Simulation The assembly was modelled in Proteus Design Suite to validate the electrical and software compatibility of the components. The control Design and Simulation of an Electronic Thermal Data Acquisition Device for the Characterization of Building Materials 16 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP) © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.B472515021225 DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.B4725.15021225 Journal Website: www.ijeat.org program written in C using the Arduino IDE was integrated into the simulation environment. To evaluate module interactions and ensure stable communication between SPI and I2C interfaces. The device's power supply is provided by a 78S09CV regulator, which delivers a stabilised 9 V (Figure 2). The MCP9600 module converts analogue signals to digital and communicates with the Arduino board via an I2C link. The LCD (20x4) allows viewing the measured values and the system status (Figure 3). Data storage is performed on an SD card via a SPI interface (Figure 4). [Fig.2: Electrical Power Supply Mounting Diagrams] [Fig.3: Internal Diagram of an Alphanumeric LCD] [Fig.4: LCD Mounting Diagrams] III. SIMULATION AND RESULTS A complete simulation of the device was performed using Proteus software to ensure electrical compatibility and functional coherence across modules. The program flowchart was developed in C under Arduino IDE and tested virtually (Figure 5). [Fig.5: Internal Diagram of an MCP9600 Circuit] The results confirm that the device meets the key requirements of the specifications: reliable data acquisition, instantaneous display, synchronized timing, and secure data storage (Figure 6). The user interface offers multiple display pages that show the date, time, temperature measured by each thermocouple, and the data transfer status (to PC or SD card) (Figure 7). [Fig.6: Printed Circuit Board of the Arduino Due Card] [Fig.7: SD Card Mounting Diagrams] IV. DISCUSSION The proposed device offers several advantages: low cost, a modular architecture, ease of integration into embedded systems, and the potential to extend into IoT applications. However, some limitations remain, notably sensitivity to electrical noise, the need for periodic calibration, and dependence on power supply stability. Further experimental validation will help quantify system accuracy and assess robustness under real measurement conditions. V. CONCLUSION AND OUTLOOK The design and simulation of an electronic thermal data acquisition device have demonstrated the feasibility International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT) ISSN: 2249-8958 (Online), Volume-15 Issue-2, December 2025 17 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP) © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.B472515021225 DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.B4725.15021225 Journal Website: www.ijeat.org of an autonomous, low-cost and adaptable system for the thermo-physical characterization of building materials. Simulation results validate the operating principles and pave the way for a prototyping phase. This work represents an essential step towards developing accessible devices for research and education in applied thermal engineering. The research perspectives include the physical realisation of the prototype, its experimental calibration, and its comparison with commercial measuring instruments. It will also be considered to integrate wireless sensors and an IoT communication module (Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) to enable remote monitoring of thermal parameters. Finally, tests on various local building materials will validate the system's accuracy and reliability in the context of building energy efficiency. DECLARATION STATEMENT As the article's author, I must verify the accuracy of the following information after aggregating input from all authors. ▪ Conflicts of Interest/ Competing Interests: Based on my understanding, this article has no conflicts of interest. ▪ Funding Support: This article has not been funded by any organizations or agencies. This independence ensures that the research is conducted objectively and without external influence. ▪ Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate: The content of this article does not necessitate ethical approval or consent to participate with supporting documentation. ▪ Data Access Statement and Material Availability: The adequate resources of this article are publicly accessible. ▪ Author’s Contributions: The authorship of this article is contributed equally to all participating individuals. REFERENCES 1. M. Thiam, M. Coulibaly, M. Wade, O. Diallo, M.B. Niaye and S. Gaye. Design of Measuring Device for the Implementation of a method for simultaneous determination of conductivity and diffusivity of building material. International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), ISSN (O) 2320-5407 Vol. 13, Issue 11, Nov 25, DOI: https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/22024 2. M. Thiam, W. Ouedraogo, A. Danmaza, M. B. Ndiaye and S. Gaye. Data processing software for calculating the thermal conductivity of building materials by application of the box method. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research. ISSN: 2394-2630, vol 10, issue 2, p1-5,2023. https://jsaer.com/download/vol-10-iss-2-2023/JSAER2023-10-2-15.pdf 3. A. S. Diaw, H. Bal, O. Diallo, M. B. Ndiaye, M. Wade, S. Gaye. Thermophysical characterization of typha concrete with a view to its integration into construction. Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, 2021, 9, 56-65. ISSN: 2328-4889. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/jbcpr.2021.91005 4. Programme National De Réduction Des Émissions De Gaz À Effet De Serre À Travers L'efficacité Énergétique Dans Le Secteur Du Bâtiment (PNEEB), Architecture Bioclimatique Et Efficacité Énergétique Des Bâtiments Au Sénégal, 2017, https://www.tyccao-typha.org/tyccao-leprogramme-introduction 5. Y. Jannot et A. Degiovanni, Mesure des propriétés thermiques des matériaux, Iste Éditions, 2018, https://hal.univ-lorraine.fr/hal-01769388 6. M. Thiam, Mise au point d'une méthode de détermination simultanée de la conductivité et de la diffusivité des matériaux de construction, Thiès, 2020, pp. 33-34. https://www.journalijar.com/files_for_reviewer/IJAR54581/6902f24014183_IJAR-54581-sampleFile.pdf 7. A. S. Diaw, H. Bal, M. Wade and S. Gaye. Use of Typha Australis in the habitat for the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings. Journal of Scientific and Engineering Research, 2018 5(1): 164-171, https://jsaer.com/download/vol-5-iss-1-2018/JSAER2018-05-01-164171.pdf 8. M. Diouf, D. Sow, H. Bal, S. Sow, El A. Thiam, I. Ly. Thermomechanical Characterisation of Mixtures of Frake Chips and Clay Materials from Sebikone for Use in Social Housing. International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Research Technology. ISSN: 22779655, Volume-10 Issue-10, October 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/ijesrt.v10.i10.2021.2 9. S. Raefat, M. Garoum, N. Laaroussi, M. Thiam and K. Amarray. “Thermal diffusivity and adiabatic limit temperature characterization of consolidate granular expanded perlite using the flash method”. IOP Conf. Series: Materials Sciences and Engineering 222 (2017) 012004. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/222/1/012004 10. D. Mahamat, M. Y. Khayal, M. Thiam, A. O. Abdelakh, G. Menguy, S. Gaye. “Thermo-physical characterization of clay bricks mixed with agricultural waste: case millet’s pod” International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering; 2016. http://ijetae.com/, ISSN 2250-2459. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=295107 0 AUTHOR’S PROFILE Dr. Macodou Thiam, Professor at the University Institute of Technology of Iba Der Thiam University (formerly University of Thiès) since 2013. Specialist in construction materials, with a focus on mechanical and thermal aspects. Holder of a third-cycle doctorate from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar and a doctorate from the University of Thiès. Researcher at the Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E) of the IUT. Author of about ten publications on the thermo-physical and mechanical characterization of construction materials. Supervisor of several research initiation topics for Master's students (5 years of higher education). Teaching experience: 30 years, including 18 years in a technical training and education centre. Wahabo Ouedraogo is a renewable energy engineer and a doctoral candidate at the Polytechnic School of Thiès. My thesis focuses on the design of a data acquisition and processing system adapted for the thermophysical characterization of construction materials using the box method. Professor Salif GAYE and Dr Macodou THIAM supervise me. Born in Burkina Faso, I completed my higher education in Senegal. Dr. Oumar Idriss Hamid, Professor at the University of N’Djamena, Chad). Specialist in construction materials, with a focus on mechanical and thermal aspects. Holder of a doctorate from the Iba Der University of Thies, Senegal. Specialist in construction materials, with a focus on mechanical and thermal aspects. Holder of a third-cycle doctorate from Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar and a doctorate from the University of Thies. Chief of the Department of Technical Sciences, Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences, University of N’Djamena, Chad. Researcher at the Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E) of the IUT of Iba Der Thiam University of Thies and at the Laboratory for Study and Research in Industrial Technology (LERTI), Faculty of Exact and Applied Sciences, University of N’Djamena, Chad. Dr. Mory Coulibaly, is a Teacher and Researcher and Head of Department Civil Engineering at University Institute of Technology – University of Thiès – Senegal. He is a member of the Laboratory of Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economy (LM3E) at the University of Thies, Senegal, and of the Association of the Senegalese Physical Society (SPS). He holds a degree in civil engineering, a master’s degree in soil mechanics and geotechnical modelling research, and a PhD in science and technology in geotechnical engineering from the Iba Der Thiam University in Thiès (Senegal) in 2024. His research areas include the characterisation of road materials and the instrumentation of pavements in topographic conditions. Mr. Daouda Wade Kane, Mechatronics & Production Engineer, Project Director, Alga Truck, Buses & More - Diourbel, Senegal Senior Industrial Consultant – Expert in Industrial Project Management & Performance Optimisation. With over 20 years of global industrial Design and Simulation of an Electronic Thermal Data Acquisition Device for the Characterization of Building Materials 18 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP) © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.B472515021225 DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.B4725.15021225 Journal Website: www.ijeat.org experience, I specialise in leading large-scale operations and driving highimpact CAPEX projects. Skilled at navigating complex, multicultural environments and developing strong local leadership capabilities to ensure long-term organisational resilience and sustainable performance. Prof. Salif Gaye, Professor at Iba Der Thiam University of Thies (Senegal) since 2007. Previously, he served as a professor at the École Polytechnique de Thies and at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar from 1988 to 2007. Prof. GAYE has held several administrative positions, including Department Head, Division Head, Central Director, Institution Director, and Vice-Rector. He is the author of more than 100 publications, including two books and two invention patents, and has supervised over 100 thesis projects at the Engineering, DEA, Master’s, and Doctoral levels. Prof. Salif GAYE serve as Director of Innovation, Valorization, Intellectual Property, and Technology Transfer at the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DGRI) of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MESRI) from 2014 to the present. He is the Curator of theses at the Doctoral School “Sustainable Development and Society” and the Director of the research laboratory Materials, Energy, Electricity and Economics (LM3E) at the University Institute of Technology of Iba Der Thiam University of Thies. Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of the Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP)/ journal and/or the editor(s). 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