Blog by Peter, Digital Infrastructure, Welsh Government

Darllenwch y dudalen hon yn Gymraeg 

It’s been over a year since my last blog which covered how LoRaWAN is helping to fight crime and tackle climate change.

Since then, we have seen the Smart Towns programme flourish, with the team undertaking a significant amount of engagement, and hosting what is understood to be the first “Smart” conference focusing on towns, hosted in Wrexham (which ironically is a city!).

The conference included an opening address by Glyn Jones, the Welsh Government’s Chief Digital Officer and Lisa Perkins, Director of BT’s Global R&D Centre, Adastral Park.

First, let’s take a look at the Smart Towns case study in Wrexham below:

CASE STUDY: Wrexham SMART Technology / Astudiaeth Achos: Technoleg SMART yn Wrecsam (youtube.com)

The spirit of openness is not just preached but is practiced in Wales.

The importance of sharing data and open data was a particularly strong message that came out of the conference, as was open access agreements, which provide a simpler way to get better and faster mobile connectivity in congested parts of towns.  This is something David Evans, Smart Towns Development Officer at Wrexham County Borough Council has led on and recently celebrated with what is understood to be Wales’s first “Open Access Agreement” with a mobile network operator.

The conference shared a range of case studies from across Wales including one focused on enhanced management of green infrastructure using sensors and data within Abergavenny , a coffee shop using smart sensors in Wrexham, along with presentations from “Global Urban Futurist” Peter Griffiths of Bable Smart Cities, and Paul Sandham of Patrwm.

But who else in Wales is practicing what digital leaders are preaching?

Investing to Save:

All eyes are on Conwy for the moment who have been working on several LoRaWAN Internet of Things based projects, such as monitoring of Trees to aid growth during those initial vulnerable years, Culverts, Co2 and many other “things”.

Why monitor trees?  Monitoring trees with IoT offers several benefits:

• Early Detection of Diseases and Pests.
• Optimised Irrigation and Water Management.
• Environmental Monitoring.
• Predictive Maintenance.
• Data-Driven Insights.

Huw McKee, Head of IT and Digital Transformation at Conwy County Borough Council:

“For a number of years now Conwy County Borough Council have been on a Smart City / IoT journey using Smart Sensors. 

 A financial grant from Welsh Government accelerated our exposure and knowledge of different sensors whilst improving IoT coverage across the Authority area. 

The coverage has been key to accommodate different departments’ needs through the delivery of projects as diverse as soil moisture monitoring, monitoring stream water levels, environmental conditions within schools, offices and living areas and public toilet use. 

Unbiased empirical data collection is fundamental in allowing Local Authorities to make key decisions that positively affect public services and experiences.  The data allows decisions based on reality rather than interpretive/anecdotal information. This provides reassurance to Officers and Councillors when making difficult decisions.

Using IoT Technology is the key to our future which provides a further platform for public services to explore their own efficiencies and to deliver more effective services that are so important to the organisation and the public whom we serve.”

Carbon saving innovations:

Many academics are discovering that LoRaWAN can help them reduce their carbon footprint and be much savvier when collecting data.

One organisation for example, was travelling back and forth to North Pembrokeshire to collect Nitrate level data on a Farming Connect LoRaWAN enabled demonstrator farm. 

By adopting LoRaWAN technology, they were able to cut down on the journeys made to the farm and reduce the risk of the data becoming lost or damaged.

Combining data sets for better outcomes:

Conwy County Borough Council have completed a blended data proof of concept and are ready to implement a new solution using Natural Resources Wales existing monitoring stations and the councils own LoRaWAN sensors deployed in areas not possible with older technologies.  The evidence so far demonstrates an improved risk of flooding forecast, and Scott Andrews from Conwy County Borough Council highlights this on one of his LinkedIn posts here.

Of course, we’ve known this has never been about the tech (though it excites many of us), but about the culture, the data, and the outcomes.

Digital Transformation:

Getting everyone on board this transformational journey is challenging, but data empowers people and becomes a tool to assist them. 

We are now able to get data to them from places where we never thought possible just 10 years ago, thanks to LoRaWAN and other IoT technologies.

Imagine what IoT from Space could do…

Until the next time 🙂