By Phillip Dodd, Technology Lead IIoT Engineering Infrastructure & Security, Fiberroad Technology
Traffic Management
Traffic optimization is a major challenge for cities, especially those with large populations. To solve this problem, smart city use pavement-integrated sensors to send real-time updates to a central management platform. From there, historical data is analyzed and traffic lights are automatically adjusted based on the information. This solution doesn’t require any human intervention, which makes it a practical way to help city traffic flow.
Smart cities are becoming more prevalent. San Francisco, for example, has implemented a pilot program that integrates Industrial Network into traffic signals and a smart grid. The city is implementing this technology to improve its safety and reduce pollution. The potential for smart cities is enormous, and adoption is expected to increase in the coming years.
Smart Parking
The Industrial Network can be used to create smart cities, and cities will benefit from its use. In the UK, the city of Bristol has replaced traditional street lights with new ones and reports a PS1 million savings every year. In Barcelona, Spain, smart street lights will provide mobile broadband connectivity, and may be modified to incorporate IIoT functionality.
A parking sensor, for example, uses GPS data from drivers’ mobile phones to create a real-time map of available parking spaces. Drivers can then be notified when a spot becomes available, and use the map on their phone to find the spot that’s most convenient for them.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water quality monitoring is a vital component of the smart city ecosystem. A number of sensors can be used to monitor water quality, such as pH and turbidity. The collected data can then be analyzed at a base station. The novel IIoT system and Industrial Network uses low-power, low-carbon-emission sensors to gather water quality data. The system integrates a Wi-Fi module and an Arduino controller to send and receive data. The results are displayed on a web page and can be retrieved by the central pollution control board.
Water quality monitoring can improve health and safety. Around 2 billion people do not have access to clean water. The presence of excrement and bacteria in drinking water can cause a variety of ailments. Water that contains excessive amounts of dirt and toxins can lead to diarrhoea, which kills an estimated one thousand children every day. Water quality sensors help authorities monitor water quality by detecting deviations from normal metrics. Real-time analysis can then recommend corrective measures.
Final Thought
One of the hottest topics of 2018 is the Industrial Network and IIoT. With the emergence of new smart devices, cities can now use data to make better decisions. This can help cities manage traffic, improve air quality, better utilize infrastructure, and keep citizens safe.
There are many examples of how smart city technologies can help cities, from smart streetlights to interactive kiosks. One example is Singapore, where IoT cameras are used to monitor public spaces and the movement of registered vehicles. This city also uses systems to monitor energy consumption, waste management, and the health of senior citizens. Meanwhile, Kansas City has introduced smart streetlights and a free Wi-Fi network to improve the quality of life. It also created an app for its citizens to view their monthly bills, submit meter readings, and audit their homes’ usage.