4 Key Considerations for Water Utilities Building an IoT Network with mioty?

Through the Internet of Things (IoT), water utilities can transform their business. The technology allows them to connect multiple meters, valves and other sensors in the network to generate a constant flow of data that they can use to monitor and analyze their performance in real time. Using this data, they can identify and address the underlying causes of inefficiencies in their network, whether it be leaks, Non-Revenue Water (NRW) or pressures issues. The benefits are improved maintenance, increased operational efficiency, reduced waste and greater sustainability.?

But, if you’re a decision-maker at a water utility, how do you know which IoT standard best suits your needs? There are multiple parameters to consider, including the quantity of data you need to process, the accessibility of your network, and how to ensure data continuity and security in the long term. To help you structure your decision, we have identified four major criteria you should consider. Each of these criteria must be adapted to the specific needs of your water network.?

1. Data quantity and quality. The starting point for all network improvements is data. To reap the full benefits of IoT, you need data that is always accurately and reliably sourced. That means choosing a protocol that delivers high data granularity and timeliness, and is capable of processing the masses of information generated by your extended network in total security. Such a protocol allows you to do everything faster, from detecting leaks to anticipating maintenance work.
2. Radio performance. Managing a water network means gathering data from several tens of thousands of smart water meters, many located in challenging area like pits. Your network may extend over long distances and include regions with different topographic conditions. That means selecting a protocol that is robust enough to detect the radio signal transmitted by IoT devices at all times. Such a protocol must minimize interference, cover long distances, and reliably capture data from hard-to-reach locations.?
3. Energy efficiency. Certain IoT protocols are more demanding in terms of energy than others. By selecting an energy-efficient standard, you will not only save costs; you’ll also extend the battery lifetime of the meters, sensors and other devices in your network. Plus, you’ll increase the sustainability of your network.
4. Interoperability and scalability. Most water networks are built up over time and may include a range of devices and sensors of different ages and from different manufacturers. For your IoT network to operate at full efficiency, you need a protocol that can seamlessly gather data from all your existing devices – plus any devices you may add in the future. In other words, it needs to be interoperable, scalable and futureproof.

One of the preferred categories of IoT protocol for water utilities is Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN). While LPWAN usually answer many of the above criteria, they often require a compromise in terms of range, scalability or energy efficiency.

A recently-developed technology that may offer a way to overcome these limitations is mioty?. This software-defined radio technology combines reliable data transfer with ultra-low power, broad scalability and a capability to support very long-range networks. It uses a patented telegram splitting technology to deliver unrivalled interference immunity, and is capable of transferring data over distances of 11 kilometers and up to 50,000 transmitting devices. For water utilities looking to create an IoT network, mioty? is an option worth considering – especially as it has been adapted specifically for the metering sector, in the form of mioty for Metering.

If you would like to know more about mioty? and how it can help you shape a powerful IoT network, consult our white paper about next-generation connectivity for the metering world.