The Internet of Things is now a permanent feature of industry. Its effects are most spectacular in this case, because they can easily be converted into money. Interestingly, similar solutions can be implemented in smart factories and smart cities alike. Huge metropolises generate comparable amounts of data, but even the largest factories find it more difficult to justify the need for investment in the infrastructure which will collect, process and transform this data into ready-made solutions.
The most significant barriers to the development of smart cities are bureaucratic, not technological. Advanced technologies can offer a lifeline to cities struggling with the problems of modernity, but it is still up to the people who manage these cities to decide whether they want to use them to improve the standard of living of residents. It is certainly worth noting the cities that make such efforts, and the conclusions which they manage to draw. The JCommerce team has the opportunity to take part in the Smart City Expo in Barcelona, which has been one of the leaders in smart city development over the years, and a fine example of a city which has put intelligent solutions into practice.
Noise pollution is one of the main problems faced by residents of big cities every day. This is particularly troublesome in city centers, as well as in locations frequented by tourists. An example may be Placa del Sol in Barcelona, whose residents have been complaining about the very high noise levels for a very long time. At the request of the city, Making Sens installed a network of noise sensors in various places around the square.
Sensors have been placed both outside and inside buildings, which helped pinpoint the places most exposed to noise. The difference between noise levels outside and inside was also examined. It was also possible to determine what time the noise was at its loudest.
The results of the measurements confirmed the observations of Placa del Sol residents. The analysis showed that most of the time the noise remained at 60 dB, while at critical moments it reached as loud as 93 dB. For comparison, the safe level is about 45 dB.
In cooperation with specialists, we managed to develop a strategy to combat noise. One of the main sources of noise that we managed to locate was the concentration of people on Placa del Sol. The first step, therefore, was a wider social campaign aimed at raising awareness of the city’s noise problem, the causes and effects.
The concentration of people on Placa del Sol decreased as a result, which of course brought about a reduction in the noise level. The increased space made changes possible – additional plants were planted, and a playground was created. This made Placa del Sol a people-friendly place, not only suitable for evening meetings but also for families wanting to spend their free time here during the day.
The following tools / methods were used during the campaign:
Advanced information technologies such as IoT definitely help to better understand the needs and problems of cities and their residents. In the example described, noise was the issue, but solutions of this type are also well-suited for traffic jams, air pollution, crime, excessive water and energy consumption, and many more. However, it should be remembered that the IoT itself does not solve problems, but only provides the necessary information that allows users to make a diagnosis and find solutions.
Sometimes the solutions seem to be very simple – in the case of Placa del Sol, it was enough to thin out the crowds. However, these are most often complex problems that require a multi-dimensional approach and knowledge, because each city consists of a network of connected elements that are very difficult to regulate. That’s why the IoT also has another side to it – it has to undertake intelligent, but not excessive monitoring, giving inhabitants a sense of security and catching problems before they become an issue for the whole community.
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