Can the Internet of things solve environmental crises?
This is an edited excerpt from the book “Building the Internet of Things” (Implement New Business Models, Disrupt Competitors, Transform Your Industry) by Maciej Kranz, published by John Wiley & Sons.
I recently met with a water utility company providing water and wastewater services for a major metropolitan area in the United States. We discussed their comprehensive approach to ensuring a clean water supply for the city, starting with source protection, water treatment and the distribution system.
Think of their challenge: Regardless of the mix and concentration of pollutants or microbes present in the source of water (a river), they must ensure that they deliver a consistent supply and quality of water leaving their system for consumers. By the way, since the creation of the utility some 80 years ago, the number of people they serve has quadrupled.
No surprise that they turned to the internet of things (IoT) for help. Cities are deploying systems that monitor air quality and noise levels and can recommend actions as simple as regulating traffic and vehicle access to the city center.
Cities are deploying systems that monitor air quality and noise levels and can recommend actions as simple as regulating traffic and vehicle access to the city center.
The utility started with the deployment of a variety of sensors testing physical, chemical and biological parameters. They partnered with a startup to connect legacy sensors and to collect the data these sensors generated real time. Then they moved to implement diagnostic, predictive and prognostic analytics that help them manage assets, assure water quality, quickly identify water leaks and also anticipate the quantity of water required in the city the next day. They are now looking into adopting an augmented reality system for emergency management preparedness.
We are all aware of the environmental challenges facing both the developing and developed world. Polluted air in cities, lack of potable water, industrial waste, dirty and inefficient energy sources, to name a few. The good news is that IoT is starting to help in many of these areas. Read more…