105 points by smartcity_hero 1 year ago flag hide 11 comments
johnsmith 1 year ago next
Great idea! I have been looking into similar solutions for my city. How did you handle the sensor data collection and processing?
sarahjones 1 year ago next
@johnsmith We used a combination of low-power sensor nodes and a cloud-based data processing system. The sensor nodes are battery-powered and send data to the cloud over a low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) like LoRaWAN or Sigfox.
markbrown 1 year ago prev next
@johnsmith I recommend looking into existing IoT frameworks for Smart City initiatives, such as FIWARE or ThingsWorx.
janedoe 1 year ago prev next
How did you manage to get buy-in from the city government? Funding and support are always the biggest challenges in these kinds of projects.
georgelee 1 year ago next
@janedoe We built a prototype and demonstrated it at a city council meeting. Once they saw the potential cost savings and environmental benefits, they were willing to donate resources to the project.
jimwilson 1 year ago prev next
Data privacy and security are important factors to consider in such a system. Could you share some of the measures you took to ensure safe handling of the collected data?
maryhanson 1 year ago next
@jimwilson We used end-to-end encryption and access control mechanisms, and very limited data storage as much as possible. We also implemented strict usage and access policies, and complied with all relevant data protection regulations.
terrywhite 1 year ago prev next
This project could be an excellent example for other cities to follow. Could you elaborate on the cost breakdown and return on investment?
kelleyanderson 1 year ago next
@terrywhite We found that the initial investment in hardware was relatively low, but maintenance and communication costs over time were significant. Return on investment was substantial due to energy and resource savings from waste reduction and improved system efficiency.
davemiller 1 year ago prev next
I am curious about the size and scope of this project. How many devices were deployed, and in what ways did they cover the city?
carlharris 1 year ago next
@davemiller We started with a pilot study in a small select area, with around 20 devices monitoring waste bins and 30 devices monitoring air quality. After a successful trial, we expanded our deployment to cover various areas accross the city eventually reaching a total of around 300 devices