Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI) announced that Instrumentation
Technologies (I-Tech) and Noesis.Network
were selected as the winners of the inaugural Itron
Smart City Challenge. The Smart City Challenge invited IoT solution
providers to compete for the chance to work with Glasgow and the City of
London to deploy breakthrough solutions to address specific challenges
defined by the cities.
The Smart City Challenge showcases how Itron is enabling cities and
technology innovators to work together to solve problems and improve
citizen wellbeing. Using Itron’s standards-based developer tools, the
winning companies created integrated IoT solutions that leverage Itron’s
IoT networks in the Cities of Glasgow and London. As winners, I-Tech and
Noesis will continue to collaborate with the cities to progress their
breakthrough solution. Itron will continue to support the winners to
help them bring their solutions to market.
Glasgow Challenge
As one of the world’s top sporting cities and a major destination for
conferences and concerts, the City of Glasgow frequently attracts large
crowds of visitors. However, this increased population can create
significant challenges to the city for visitors and residents alike
regarding public transit, traffic, noise and safety. For the challenge,
Glasgow asked for solutions to help improve the experience of residents
highly populated during events while elevating the city’s profile as a
cultural destination for tourists.
The winning solution from Noesis features cost-effective acoustic
sensors to address noise pollution and mitigate traffic. Noesis proposes
deploying sensors on lampposts in areas with anticipated noise pollution
from events and related traffic to identify, localize and quantify
noise. The distributed network of noise sensors gathers highly reliable
and accurate data, including noise source, location, sound profile and
power level. With this data, Glasgow can have unprecedented visibility
to acoustic data around event venues to reduce noise pollution. The
acoustic sensors can be upgraded over-the-air to support future use
cases such as traffic management and public safety.
Finalists for the Glasgow Challenge included:
-
Koya
Digital: Utilized IoT and AI to monitor, predict and influence the
flow of large groups of people travelling through urban environments -
TerraGo
Technologies: On-demand traffic signal control to improve mobility
around high-traffic events
London Challenge
Due to the life-threatening nature of people entering the River Thames,
the City of London sought solutions to improve river safety and address
public health priorities. The City of London wanted solutions to protect
citizens by identifying entries into the river, ensuring the
availability of safety equipment when it is needed, and accelerating
emergency response times. London Challenge winner I-Tech designed a
two-step solution to allow London to monitor lifebelts and pinpoint the
location of a person in need of rescue support.
The first step of the solution suggests the deployment of small,
battery-powered devices that will monitor the lifebelts. To prevent
misuse, the device will sound a high-pitched alarm if a lifebelt is
removed. If the lifebelt is not placed back in its housing unit for
eight seconds, an emergency message will be sent via the Itron IoT
network to notify emergency services. The second part of the solution is
a jumper detection system that uses an optical scanner to identify when
people fall from the bridge and to track their precise location to
assist first responders in search and rescue. I-Tech carefully designed
the solution to operate effectively even in thick fog and uses advanced
data processing to ensure the lasers are detecting people instead of
other objects such as birds or falling objects.
Finalists for the London Challenge included:
-
Cyient:
3D GIS platform with data model geotagged to every device, including
hydrophones, HD cameras and drones -
Noesis:
Acoustic sensors identify and localize entries -
TerraGo
Technologies: On-demand search lighting for authorized emergency
personnel -
UniqueID:
Connected lifebuoys to detect emergency or misuse, and blinking public
lights to help the Coastal Guard rapidly identify the exact emergency
location
Quotes
“The inaugural Itron Smart City Challenge shows how we are applying
technology for a purpose. While these solutions were purpose-built to
address specific needs defined by the sponsoring cities, river safety
and noise pollution are common concerns for cities worldwide. We invite
cities from around the world to collaborate with Itron to launch the
next set of open innovation challenges.”
- Itai Dadon, director of smart cities and IoT at Itron
“Since Glasgow is a major destination for conferences and concerts, we
want to reduce noise pollution and traffic to ensure an optimal travel
experience for visitors. Through our participation in the Itron Smart
City Challenge, we found a solution that will easily connect to our
existing network and address our concerns.”
- Duncan Booker, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Glasgow
“As a leading IP Core provider excelling in innovative hardware design,
Noesis is thrilled to develop a high-quality product for Glasgow that
harnesses the power of IoT. For this challenge, we designed a solution
that will utilize wireless networks to create real-time, highly granular
sound maps with our acoustic sensors. It is an honor to have our
solution selected by Glasgow.”
- Kees Den Hollander, Chief Commercial Officer, Noesis Network BV
“The Itron Smart City Challenge gave us an incredible opportunity to
seek a creative solution to meet our safety and public health
priorities. With I-Tech’s solution, we will be able shorten response
times in dangerous situations to improve safety for our citizens. We
look forward to implementing this solution, which could be replicated in
cities around the world.”
-
Giles Radford, Highways Manager, Department of the Built Environment
at the City of London Corporation
“This challenge was a great opportunity to for us. We demonstrated our
capability to study the problem and then deliver a customized solution
that enhances Itron’s IoT networks with our innovative, custom built
sensing electronics. Utilizing Itron’s developer tools, we developed a
solution that will enhance safety for London’s citizens. We are pleased
that London selected our solution, which we believe represents the
future of emergency response services.”
- Uros Dragonja, Solutions Architect at Instrumentation Technologies
About Itron
Itron enables utilities and cities to safely, securely and reliably
deliver critical infrastructure services to communities in more than 100
countries. Our portfolio of smart networks, software, services, meters
and sensors helps our customers better manage electricity, gas and water
resources for the people they serve. By working with our customers to
ensure their success, we help improve the quality of life, ensure the
safety and promote the well-being of millions of people around the
globe. Itron is dedicated to creating a more resourceful world. Join us: www.itron.com.
Itron® is a registered trademark of Itron, Inc. All
third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any
usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron
and the third party unless expressly stated.
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