5 Useful Applications of Cellular IoT in Smart City Environments

For what purpose is cellular IoT essential in smart cities? The United Nations predicts that by 2050, metropolitan regions will be home to two-thirds of the world’s population. This indicates that urban areas will become home to 2.5 billion additional people. Therefore, more sustainable planning is urgently required because new problems are constantly emerging.

A possible solution to the problems caused by urbanization could lie in the IoT, or the Internet of Things. To make everyone’s day-to-day lives easier and safer, for instance, important issues include reducing traffic congestion and fighting environmental degradation.

Here are some examples of successful deployments of cellular IoT in smart cities throughout the world, as well as the most typical use cases for this technology.

#1: Connected Public Transport

Connected public transportation is, unsurprisingly, the most prominent urban IoT application case right now. The necessity of dependable public transportation is on the rise, so this is hardly surprising. For example, riders of public transit can check the whereabouts and expected arrival times of their routes thanks to real-time fleet monitoring. Additionally, it notifies travelers of any delays and suggests the most efficient routes to their destinations.

Example: Among the first cities to implement intelligent applications system-wide in their public transportation network was Seoul in 2003. Mass transit ridership increased from 30% to 70% as a result of this change, which also made taking public transport easier. Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Singaporean, Spanish, and British cities have all reported on comparable projects and their outcomes.

#2: Traffic Monitoring and Management

The increasing of traffic congestion is yet another problem that arises as a result of more people settling in urban areas. The use of IoT applications in smart cities for a variety of purposes can reduce congestion.

In order to change traffic patterns and enable improved mobility management, several devices gather useful data. These include smart GPS, electric vehicle chargers, infrastructure, toll booths, asset trackers, and more. In the event of an accident, drivers can instantly notify authorities at the scene so that they can assist and reroute traffic without disrupting the flow of traffic.

Example: Stockholm and Copenhagen have launched an intelligent traffic light initiative that allows for more effective and modern ways of visualizing traffic patterns. By adjusting the length of time that bikes and buses have the green light at peak hours, this might affect traffic flows and congestion.

Read More: 5 Innovative Applications of IoT in Construction

#3: Smart Parking

Besides being annoying, driving around parking lots in search of available spots or just sitting on the gas while you wait is bad for the environment.To make parking a breeze, “smart parking” uses state-of-the-art Internet of Things technology. A driver can be easily notified of an available parking spot in this situation thanks to smart technology that uses real-time occupancy and payment data.

Example: The most extensive on-street parking advice system in the world is located in Cologne. All of the on-street parking spots in the Nippes area are accessible through this solution, which also gives drivers specific instructions on how to find the nearest open lot. In addition to improving energy efficiency and people’s quality of life, this approach also helps reduce emissions.

#4: Logistics

The role of logistics in modern cities is crucial. Reduced vehicles on the road and less pollution are possible outcomes of better logistics management, shorter idling periods, and the possibility of electric last-mile delivery. The rising need for more shipments with shorter delivery periods makes this all the more crucial.

Example: The weekly delivery volume in Paris is already at 4.3 million commodities and is projected to reach 6.5 million by the year 2030. Better planning decisions can be made with the help of fleet telematics and extra traffic data. Faster route planning to decrease last-mile delivery times, improved gas efficiency, and the ability to make decisions regarding mobility hubs are all part of this. To make logistics vehicles more secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly, this can change their movement and parking patterns.

#5: Utilities

IoT technology provides cities with the tools to conserve utilities such as electricity, water, and gas. The use of smart sensors can quickly identify leakages and structural weaknesses, reducing unnecessary truck rolls with better-scheduled maintenance. It even passes cost-saving measures to residents by giving them more transparency, accuracy, and control over their home utilities.

Example: In order to promote water conservation and address water shortages, the city of Cape Town, South Africa, has begun implementing smart metering technologies. Smart water meters keep track of residents’ consumption usage and report it to their accounts. The city witnessed a 40 to 60 percent decrease in consumption as a result of rising awareness regarding water usage.

Conclusion

These examples from different smart cities only scratch the surface of how cellular IoT might improve urban populations’ resource management. With access to more complete, real-time data, stakeholders may better comprehend and anticipate trends, enabling them to react with more efficient and cost-effective solutions. In addition to addressing people’ immediate needs, it will also improve their quality of life in the long run.