Meraki in Apple Homekit

Adding sensor data on the Apple homescreen
Showcasing more information in the Apple Homekit framework
Allowing you to create automations based on the Meraki MT 14 Sensors.
SampeCode

Inspiration

I obtained some MT14 sensors to check the air-quality and temperature innside our house. But, to check on the sensor data, you had to log into the Meraki dashboard, who's behind login, and MFA. Because of this; my wife would not check up on it. (and if you've enabled SMS or Email notifications, you'd probably understand why that is going to give you somewhat of an alert fatigue)

So, I needed to present the data somewhere more easily obtainable.

What it does

So this project feeds the Meraki MT14 sensor data through a virtual Gateway, and into Apple Homekit. So it is easily presented on the lockscreen, and in Apple home.

How we built it

Making something Homekit enabled out of the box is somewhat more work than you can do in 42 hours. But you can use the Homebridge to bridge the gap between a device and Apple Homekit. I've used this as a framework and wrote code to enable the data in Apple Homekit.

Since Homebridge can virtualize physical sensors, I've been able to generate an air quality sensor that maps the Meraki MT14 Air quality data into Apple Readable data. As well as CO2 alert sensors. Where you then can automate other IoT stuff at home, to act on sensor-data information.

Challenges we ran into

As you could guess, the Apple Homekit framework is somewhat locked and limited to what you want to create. It is not "out of the box" possible to create a VOC sensor, or a pm2.5 sensor and make them alert on something. So that's something I have to tweak later on. Maby? it is possible to re-use the co2 sensor to show the correct data?

Accomplishments that we're proud of

So! using the API, I figured that the MT14 sensor returns co2 data! I was then able to feed that data into a virtual C02 Sensor that alerts when it finds high Co2 values inside! Even cooler! that alert is showcased on all iOS devices that are invited to Apple home. So, if something is happening, we'd be able to manually open windows (if it gets that bad)

What I ended up doing, was acting when the C02/tvoc/pm2 was rising, we turned on all 4 air scrubbers, actively increasing the indoor air quality! And when the indoor air quality was up back to Excellent, they turned off. Saving power ;D

What we learned

Seems like there are a lot of things you can do with the Homebride framework! and I'm glad I started looking! And, seems like with everything else, making stuff easily available and easily consumable makes people want to use it! (the wife now opens the windows to clear the air)