diff --git a/src/bh1749/bh1749.cxx b/src/bh1749/bh1749.cxx
index ce3b75cc..a7daa921 100755
--- a/src/bh1749/bh1749.cxx
+++ b/src/bh1749/bh1749.cxx
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include "bh1749.hpp"
+#include "upm_string_parser.hpp"
+
+#define DEFAULT_OP_MODE INT_JUDGE_1
+#define DEFAULT_MEAS_TIME MEAS_240MS
+#define DEFAULT_RGB_GAIN RGB_GAIN_1X
+#define DEFAULT_IR_GAIN IR_GAIN_1X
+#define DEFAULT_INT_SOURCE RED
+#define DEFAULT_THRESHOLD_HIGH 511
 
 using namespace upm;
 
@@ -43,6 +51,51 @@ BH1749::BH1749(int bus, int addr) : m_bh1749(bh1749_init(bus, addr))
                                 "bh1749_init() failed");
 }
 
+BH1749::BH1749(std::string initStr) : mraaIo(initStr)
+{
+  mraa_io_descriptor* descs = mraaIo.getMraaDescriptors();
+  std::vector<std::strings> upmTokens;
+
+  m_bh1749 = (bh1749_context)malloc(sizeof(struct _bh1749_context));
+  if(!m_bh1749)
+      throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                              "bh1749_init() failed");
+
+  m_bh1749->i2c = NULL;
+  m_bh1749->interrupt = NULL;
+
+  if(mraa_init() != MRAA_SUCCESS) {
+      bh1749_close(m_bh1749);
+      throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                              "bh1749_init() failed");
+  }
+
+  if(!descs->i2cs) {
+      bh1749_close(m_bh1749);
+      throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__)
+                                + ": mraa_i2c_init() failed");
+  } else {
+      if( !(m_bh1749->i2c = descs->i2cs[0])) {
+          bh1749_close(m_bh1749);
+          throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__)
+                                    + ": mraa_i2c_init() failed");
+      }
+  }
+
+  if(bh1749_check_who_am_i(dev) != UPM_SUCCESS)
+      throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__)
+                                + ": bh1749_init() failed");
+
+  m_bh1749->enabled = false;
+  m_bh1749->isrEnabled = false;
+
+  if(bh1749_sensor_init(m_bh1749, DEFAULT_OP_MODE, DEFAULT_MEAS_TIME,
+      DEFAULT_RGB_GAIN, DEFAULT_IR_GAIN, DEFAULT_INT_SOURCE) != UPM_SUCCESS)
+      throw std::runtime_error(std::string(__FUNCTION__) +
+                                "bh1749_init() failed");
+  bh1749_set_threshold_high(m_bh1749, DEFAULT_THRESHOLD_HIGH);
+}
+
 BH1749::~BH1749()
 {
     bh1749_close(m_bh1749);
diff --git a/src/bh1749/bh1749.hpp b/src/bh1749/bh1749.hpp
index 9cea65fa..a8610657 100755
--- a/src/bh1749/bh1749.hpp
+++ b/src/bh1749/bh1749.hpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 #include "bh1749.h"
+#include <mraa/initio.hpp>
 
 /**
  * @brief BH1749 Color Sensor
@@ -62,6 +63,13 @@ namespace upm {
          */
         BH1749(int bus = 0, int addr = 0x39);
 
+        /**
+         * Instantiates BH1749 Color Sensor based on a given string.
+         *
+         * @param initStr string containing specific information for BH1749 Sensor initialization.
+         */
+        BH1749(std::string initStr);
+
         /**
          * @brief Close and free sensor
          */
@@ -337,9 +345,10 @@ namespace upm {
 
     private:
         bh1749_context m_bh1749;
+        mraa::MraaIo mraaIo;
 
         /* Disable implicit copy and assignment operators */
         BH1749(const BH1749 &) = delete;
         BH1749 &operator=(const BH1749 &) = delete;
     };
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}