An apparatus for acquiring air quality data from removable and/or replaceable sensor, processing and storing the acquired data, and transmitting the processed data to backend server is enabled. The apparatus includes a microcontroller coupled with a Universal Sensor Interface (USI). The USI may include an element configured to transmit continuous electrical power to a removable and/or replaceable sensor, an element configured to transmit intermittent electrical power during time intervals corresponding to sensing intervals, an element configured to transmit an indication that the removable and/or replaceable sensor is currently coupled with the sensor interface, and one or more elements configured as a serial peripheral interface. A modular sensor system is thereby enabled, configurable to manage multiple removable and replaceable sensors such as air quality sensors. Distinct interface elements for continuous and intermittent electrical power enable utilization of sensors with relatively long initialization times while optimizing power usage by powering some components only during sensing intervals. Including an interface element indicating presence or absence of the removable and/or replaceable sensor and one or more interface elements configured as a serial peripheral interface with USI protocol enable dynamic plug-and-play reconfiguration of the apparatus.