A portable sensor-system based on solid-state gas sensors has been designed and implemented as proof-of-concept for environmental air-monitoring applications, malodours olfactometric control and landfill gas monitoring. Commercial gas sensors and nanotechnology sensors are arranged in a configuration of array for multisensing and multiparameter devices. Wireless sensors at low-cost are integrated to implement a portable and mobile node, that can be used as early-detection system in a distributed sensor network. Real-time and continuous monitoring of hazardous air-contaminants (NO 2, CO, PAH, BTEX, etc.) has been performed in field measurements by comparison of chemical analyzers from environmental protection governmental agency (ARPA-Puglia). In addition, experimental campaigns of the integrated portable sensor-system have been realized for assessment of malodours emitted from an urban waste site. The results demonstrate that the sensor-system has a potential capacity for real-time measurements of air-pollutants, malodours from waste site, and control of landfill gas. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.