❦ “Progressive cities are never completed— they keep on improving” ❦
Internet of Things (IoT) – thanks to cheap sensor technology, big data, and predictive analytics — together with Information communication techs can provide all manner of smart urban solutions.
Internet of Things (IoT) – thanks to cheap sensor technology, big data, and predictive analytics — together with Information communication techs can provide all manner of smart urban solutions.
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- Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), also known as Steel City is pioneering use of smart city IOT applications to run important city functions like utilities (water, power, lighting, waste). JUSCO, a full utilities provider is looking for new ways of delivering good public services and improving quality of life. It started with call centres, then a combined utility bill, e-billing and e-payments, to finally smart city apps.
‘Smart’ in action-----------------------
Smart metering and lighting were initially tackled. IOT apps Proof of Concepts were done, eg. smart street lighting was tested to automatically adjust brightness based on natural lighting and density of traffic. When sensors generate real-time data, IOT apps can take fast and proactive actions, ideal for intrusions, waste & water quality control, storm & flood water monitoring, predictive asset management. For example, a sensor located under the manhole monitors for rising sewage levels and if detected speedy action can be taken via centralised command and control (C&C) centre.
For drinking water direct from tap, a system was perfected for adjusting purification based on manual checks on water samples from various city sites. Then process was made tech-driven whereby sensor-fitted devices sent alerts to C&C centre and relayed to authorised people (via SMS). To improve grid power, sensors were fitted to hundreds of power transformers, that sent signals to C&C centre but also evolved a solution to preempt a disaster.
Smart city IOT apps are designed around a compatible mobile network. LoRaWAN network is handy because it works with very low power, battery driven WAN devices (LoRa approved). Other networks can be accessed in a similar way. All the data resides on a cloud computing facility. Once there is a critical mass of data, analytics is performed to derive actionable insights.
Challenges ahead--------------------------
SPV developers and City authorities must not lose sight of the intended benefits and work to reinforce this. For example, non-motorised transport is about giving citizens a healthy lifestyle option, not to make end-to-end journeys. Proposals should be judged when they are fully functional. For example, JUSCO is completing proof of concepts on all its projects. Data from 2000 different sensors will be thoroughly analysed over next 1 year, before projects are taken city-wide and monitored by C&C centres. Smart cities should be on look out for better ways to deliver quality of services. JUSCO keeps in touch with other cities, exchanges notes and bench-marks itself.
REPLY Jan 21, 2018 - Smart box that switches power on or off
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Concept is simple, but benefits are great. The box is fitted to electric pole & wiring, and has a GSM SIM card. Phone to SIM from an authorised phone can disconnect lines for non-payment.
It is economical, fast and safer than doing it manually, ie:
1. Avoids manual visit and climb up the pole
2. Very quick
3. No issue with live wire, protests or physical assaults
Potential savings of AT&C losses are immense. For example, major states with discom losses (%) are:
• Bihar (49.3) • Chhattisgarh (30.8)
• Odisha (39.2) • Rajasthan (29.1)
• Haryana (31.6) • MP (28.6)
▬ Pilot studies done in MP, Raj & Maha have been successful
▬ Each discom can tailor the devise due to open port tech
▬ Capital cost is Rs850/customer for 5yrs
▬ Payback in MP was just 4mo!!
▬ Can be used for automation of street lights (eg)
REPLY Jan 21, 2018 - How to make energy-efficient cities?
Energy consumption is interlinked with GDP. So, energy consumption bumps up GDP and vice versa. It follows that with GDP growth in the world, demand for energy will follow suite. Population and economic activity is concentrated in cities. Urbanisation will continue in countries like India, Nigeria and China.
Major issues and sustainable alternative----------------------------------------------------
High prices impact not only the poor but also industry and cost of transported goods. Lack of infra reduces access to energy and over-reliance on polluting forms creating health concerns. In fact, petroleum fuel burning is the major cause of city pollution. Govt should look at sustainable sources of energy as these are often cheaper, non-polluting and have wider access.
Over-reliance on petroleum supply chain is not affordable. New sustainable technologies are likely to replace petroleum in the medium term. Instead of uncontrolled biomass burning, investment in NG infra — ie. CNG for cooking gas & piped gas for industry— will bring low costs and little pollution. Govt can transform city living by improving air quality through focus on energy efficiency, scaling up renewable sources, waste-to-wealth and carbon capture.
Sustainable future by design---------------------------
Demand for energy varies based on growth of population, transport needs (layout of city, predominant transport modes), level of industrialisation and climate & lifestyle issues.
▬ Lowering consumption
Switch to energy-efficient appliances and low energy methods or economy use of energy (eg less driving, digital methods vs physical).
▬ Energy-efficient transport
It can be done by favouring cycling and walking. System of bicycle sharing in Barcelona involves 400 exchange stations across city — esp near public transport.
▬ Energy-efficient buildings
Modern building designs can tackle high energy use in heating, cooling and lighting. This includes day lighting, ventilation, passive heating and cooling, green roofs, solar thermal water heating and energy-efficient devices. Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, of Ministry of Environment and Forests is a “net zero” building —which consumes 70 per cent less energy. It has a solar plant, water recycling facility and geothermal heat exchange system!!
▬ Urban planning
As cities expand horizontally, their energy consumption also increases. More energy becomes necessary for transport as well as new infrastructure and services. Compact and dense cities, on the other hand, require less energy. Planned distribution of residential and commercial services along with mixed land use and mass transit corridors reduce dependency on private vehicles and, consequently, energy consumption.
▬ Improving renewable energy
While the renewable energy market is expanding, it can receive further impetus from government policy initiatives, cost reduction and better energy output. One of the major shortcomings of energy sources like solar and wind is that they don’t offer continuous supply, and they need to be supplemented with traditional sources such as coal to overcome intermittency. Renewables offer opportunities for decentralised power generation and can generate income at the local level.
▬ Designing circular energy systems
A circular energy system transforms unutilised energy into a source of energy for other functions. The system can manifest itself as “co-generation” – simultaneous production of two types of energy from the same source. Such a circular system can help conserve energy especially in large establishments such as malls or factories. For example, Rotterdam connects higher temperature effluents from industries and its waste to the city’s central heating system to be used for heating purposes for residential areas.
▬ Efficient transmission
India loses around 20 per cent of its total power generated to inefficiencies of the grid. Introduction of smart grids along with smart metres and appliances can help minimise such losses and optimise power delivery.
There is a need for an integrated and comprehensive approach to conserve and optimise energy in urban areas. As energy use is scattered and multi-sectoral, so has to be the policy concerning it. So an ideal energy policy for a city would involve planning for transport, infrastructure and design of buildings. This has to be further augmented through a sustainable shift towards renewables and sensitisation of consumers to conserve energy.
REPLY Feb 10, 2018
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