Sensing network works through smart streetlight infrastructure

Telensa, a supplier of connected street lighting and smart city data applications, has launched Urban IQ, an open solution designed to connect sensors using smart streetlight infrastructure and visualize the data collected.

Urban IQ uses the light poles’ perfect position to host multiple sensors, connected using the best-fit lighting and cellular networks. The solution enable cities to deploy sensors today and to support any future smart city strategy.

The solution has three main elements. Sensor Hub is a multi-purpose device that provides power and connectivity for multiple sensors on any light pole or arm. It enables sensors to be mounted anywhere on the light pole and requires no adaptation to the luminaire itself, preserving its long-term reliability. Sensor Hub also provides local wireless connectivity for sensors near the pole such as those in waste bins or drains. It also connects sensors to the cloud through a combination of the dedicated lighting network and cellular options, such as NB-IoT.

The second part of the Urban IQ, Dashboard, is built on Microsoft Power BI, supported by systems integrators. This provides the modular flexibility to customize and integrate sensor data into other systems, providing real-time insights from sensor data across the city.

The third part of Urban IQ are the sensors. The company has worked with a group of leading sensor solution providers to prove the Urban IQ solution. The solution is designed to work with any mix of sensors that cities may prefer to use over time. Sensor types already deployed include air quality, environmental, waste, drainage, road quality and gunshot detection. Products have been running in pilots for the past 12 months in the US and UK and are now commercially available.

Leading partners who have already connected devices through Urban IQ include CA Traffic, Vaisala, Aeroqual, Libelium, Farsite Communications, Intouch, Gill, and Eagl.