IoT - Die richtigen Entscheidungen zur richtigen Zeit treffen
Echologics is one of several water industry companies that are working closely with Bell Canada to develop and bring to market integrated IoT-based solutions for use by water utilities. The data collected by Echologics sensors and automated devices communicating over Bell's proposed low-power LTE-M wireless networks is processed by enterprise-level data aggregation and reporting software that enables utilities to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs and to offer their customers an improved service.
In a few years, a wireless acoustic sensor installed in a hydrant will detect the sound of a developing leak in the water pipe and transmit a data packet to a cloud-based server. Once uploaded, specialized data aggregation software analyzes the leak location data and sends warning messages to the local water supply. However, instead of immediately dispatching responders to dig up and assess the pipe leak, the utility company will simply do nothing!
Why? The future Internet of Things (IoT) based water infrastructure management system of the utility will automatically collect and evaluate data from a variety of intelligent sensors that monitor the water distribution network and provide the vital information to the make the right decisions at the right time.
By continuously monitoring the progress and size of the leak, the future IoT system could compare the utility's maintenance schedule and operating budget with those of other regional authorities. This would enable the utility to plan costly pipeline repairs at the same time as, for example, road construction taking place next to the identified leak location - a prime example of how the availability of real-time field data can help optimize and automate all aspects of utility operations.
"Monitoring and coordinating all aspects of community services is the ultimate goal of IoT," said Eric Stacey, an Echologics product manager who is involved in developing IoT-based water infrastructure management solutions. By utilizing sensors and devices that are connected to the Internet and utilize low-power wireless technologies, the EchoShore® leak detection platform can increase the system efficiency of large water distribution systems through remote monitoring and management.
"Aside from the amazing technologies associated with machine-to-machine communications from IoT, the real benefits are the things only humans can appreciate," said Stewart Day, Echologics client manager for Canada. "Instead of the customer having to deal with the manual acquisition of important infrastructure data over long periods of time, an IoT system can automatically collect all available data and deliver it directly to the customer. The automation of an IoT-based infrastructure and asset management system gives utility workers and management the ability to focus on the bigger issues that determine the future of water management. "
