How to ACTUALLY obtain value from IoT in the Built Environment.
I had 2 conversations last week surrounding the use of IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and how they can be practically used in the built environment. There are lots of high level stories and sales pitches floating around on the internet so I thought I would write down 1 clear example of how this technology can practically be used and then explain where the value comes from using IoT;
Detecting water leaks
IoT sensors that detect water leaks use a combination of algorithms and data analysis to distinguish?the?pressure?drop caused by normal?usage compared to?the?pressure?drop caused by a leak. The sensors continuously monitor water pressure and flow in?real?time,?comparing?the data to historical patterns and trends. When sensors detect?an abnormal drop in pressure or?abnormal?flow,?they can trigger an alert that a leak may have occurred.
In addition to monitoring water pressure and?flow,?IoT sensors?can?also monitor other factors such as water temperature, water quality, and water?usage?time.?This additional data can be used to?distinguish?a leak?from?normal water?usage,?for example in a domestic situation,?showering?or washing dishes.
Finally, the data collected by IoT sensors is analyzed by machine learning algorithms that can?detect?patterns and anomalies in the data.?Algorithms?can then use this information to accurately distinguish a leak?from?normal water usage, allowing maintenance?teams?to quickly and accurately identify and repair leaks.
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Overall,?using?IoT sensors?to?detect?water leaks?offers?a more efficient way?to?monitor?water systems, allowing maintenance?teams?to quickly identify and?fix?leaks before they?cause significant damage and/or?cost.
So here is the Main point to take away from this;
It is not the sensors that provide the value here!
The sensors simply provide data, the value is in the algorithms and machine learning capability of the software that is interpreting the data provided by the sensors.
Simply placing sensors out in your building and presenting the information collected in graphs and tables achieves nothing. Having a person interpret the data and then use it to make decisions is a costly, slow, and potentially flawed way of deriving value from IoT. However, machine learning and algorithmic control of the systems which are being monitored by IoT sensors is the real value provided here. Raising an alert when the algorithm detects a problem for a person to deal with, or even one step better, cutting the water supply by means of an automated, remotely controlled actuator valve at the same time as raising the alert to minimize the damage/cost whist a person is mobilized to deal with the problem.
If you are looking into implementing IoT in your buildings, be sure to fully understand where the value is in whatever you are doing, do simply put sensors in place, collect data, and hope it will lead to better outcomes. I assure you, your hopes will be in vein.?