There is an IoT testbed deployed in Macquarie University that includes various systems such as Smart Energy Monitoring System, Smart Irrigation, and Smart Parking for disabled people. These systems can provide valuable data and insights to improve the energy efficiency, water conservation and accessibility on the University’s campus.
The Smart Energy Monitoring System can gather data on energy consumption and usage patterns, helping to identify areas where energy can be saved and to optimize the performance of the university’s energy systems.
The Smart Irrigation system can help to conserve water by monitoring soil moisture levels and automating watering based on the needs of the plants, this can help to reduce water waste and improve the health of the plants.
The Smart Parking for disabled people system can make it easier for individuals with disabilities to find and access parking spaces on the university’s campus. This can improve accessibility and make it easier for these individuals to move around the campus.
Overall, these systems can provide valuable data and insights that can be used to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility on the University’s campus.
1. An Internet of Plants System for Micro Gardens
The proposed Internet of Plants system is a great example of how IoT technology can be used to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility in various domains. By remotely monitoring soil moisture levels and automating watering control for plants, the system can help prevent over-watering or under-watering, which can damage the plants and waste resources. Additionally, the data collection feature of the system can provide valuable insights for gardeners to understand the key factors that are important for healthy plant growth.
The use of IoT technology in this system also has the potential to encourage more people to grow small-scale organic gardens in urban areas, which can help increase greenery in modern cities. This can improve the overall livability and health of the city, and make it a more pleasant and inviting place to live.
Overall, the proposed Internet of Plants system is a great example of how IoT technology can be used to improve various aspects of our lives, from energy efficiency and water conservation to accessibility and livability.
2. Smart Parking: Real-world IoT Application
The proposed trip planning tool for drivers uses IoT technology to efficiently search for available parking bays in real-time and suggest an optimal route via a navigation system. This is an innovative solution for both indoor and outdoor parking, which is currently limited.
The three key elements of this approach include the use of a network of sensors (IoT) for car detection, scalable data architecture and machine learning-based decision-making models, and mobile phone applications for drivers and car park managers.
The IoT network of sensors is used to detect the presence of cars in parking bays and collect data on the availability of parking spots. This data is then stored and processed on a cloud server, such as Amazon Web Service (AWS), for available parking spots identification. The information is then passed to drivers and parking operators via a mobile application.
This approach can improve the parking experience for drivers by providing real-time information on available parking spots, and also help parking operators to optimize the use of their resources. The use of machine learning models in the system can also help to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the system over time.
The team of IoT Testbed of Professor Michael Sheng has built their own smart parking devices and deployed them on the campus of Macquarie University during a proof of concept period. This is a great way to test and evaluate the performance of the devices in a real-world setting and gather valuable data on how they function in practice.
Smart parking systems typically use a combination of sensors and communication technologies to detect the presence of vehicles in parking spaces and manage the allocation of those spaces. The data gathered during the proof of concept period would be useful in evaluating the accuracy and reliability of the smart parking devices, as well as identifying any areas for improvement.
Additionally, the team can use the data collected to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the smart parking system in terms of improving parking efficiency and convenience for users, especially disabled people. The data can also be used to optimize the system performance and make data-driven decisions for future development.
3. Smart Energy Monitoring System
The proposed end-to-end IoT solution for smart energy monitoring system in a smart home context is based on the use of smart sockets which measure the power consumption of devices plugged into them. The system aims to provide a convenient and safer environment while reducing energy waste and electricity costs for home owners.
The smart sockets proposed in the paper were compared to commercial power meters in terms of measurement accuracy. The system utilizes open-source IoT technologies to provide a cost-efficient solution while ensuring that the measurement accuracy of the smart sockets is at par with that of commercial power meters.
Additionally, the system can collect data and control devices in real-time via a customized mobile application, which can be used to analyze the behavior of energy consumers. This helps to identify patterns of energy usage and find ways to optimize energy consumption. Overall, the proposed system provides a cost-efficient and accurate solution for monitoring and controlling energy consumption in a smart home context.
