Around the world, governments and organizations are facing increasingly scarce resources as global temperatures rise. An estimated two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. The Internet of Things (IoT) can help reduce humanity’s impact on the environment. IoT can help organizations be more sustainable by assisting in the management of water resources, the reduction of energy expenditures, the streamline data collection on traffic patterns and lower gas consumption.
The IoT involves physical objects that are embedded with sensors, software and network connectivity. With the IoT, these objects can collect real-time data about how traffic patterns are flowing and the availability of water resources. By collecting data about things like parking availability and energy use, we can reduce CO2 emissions and gas consumption. As an organization, the IoT can help your organization achieve sustainable goals.
Sustainable Energy Production
When you use the IoT’s algorithms, sensors, and communication features, you can improve the way your organization creates and distributes energy. Companies can anticipate the electricity demand for an entire city or industry for several months in advance. The smart energy used in IoT networks helps to improve an organization’s energy efficiency. The IoT would make using renewable energy easier for companies and households. In addition, it would reduce the kW price of energy. From now until 2030, smart energy will enable us to have more than 1.3 trillion Mwh of energy savings. This energy can be sourced from sustainable methods like wind turbines, solar power or hydroelectricity.
Water Use
Another area where IoT can help with sustainability is water use. IoT can boost water efficiency by collecting real-time data. Then, different machines can respond to specific problems. This is especially useful when it comes to irrigation. Around the world, 70 percent of the water used for crops is from freshwater sources. The IoT can help to reduce water consumption through environmental data, rain forecasts and humidity sensors.
With the IoT, you can also understand how water quality changes in different reservoirs. You can set up monitoring systems and sensors that can tell when the water level changes. The same sensors can create flood warnings and landslide warnings as well.
Marine Sustainability
The IoT is also making a difference in marine environments. The nonprofit Ocean Cleanup Initiative formed in 2013 with the goal of removing plastic-based debris from the ocean. In 2018, the group chose AssetLink’s Asset Pack to serve as its satellite GPS tracker. Basically, the solar-powered tracker is a fallback that provides Ocean Cleanup with geolocation abilities. In November 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began using the same kind of technology for forecasting the weather, monitoring oceanic conditions and tracking marine analytics.
The IoT can help humanity confront problems like overfishing. A tracking network called ThisFish can help local organizations and governments trace a single fish back to the fisherman who caught it and where it was caught by using toll data and GPS readings. This allows regulatory authorities to detect and stop illegal fishing.
Agriculture
By improving the way we use water, the IoT can boost the efficiency of agricultural practices. Humidity sensors and environmental data help farmers know where and when they should irrigate. Farms become more productive because farmers can control the use of expensive chemical products as well.
Other than lowering irrigation requirements and pesticide usage, the IoT can also help agriculture by reducing labor costs. The IoT can greatly reduce the manpower needed for any particular job. As a result, people can enjoy having cheaper produce in grocery stores and healthier foods. By reducing agricultural waste, companies can reduce a major source of pollutants. When a new plant or tree is put into the ground, smart IoT technology can connect to them using a monitoring device. Then, this device allows people to monitor the diseases, hydration, growth and nutrients in their crops.
Air Quality
When buildings and infrastructure are linked to the IoT, it allows them to save energy. They can reduce their CO2 emissions, which improves air quality. Sensors can also help companies gather information about the air quality inside and outside of their building. These sensors can collect data about things like the area’s barometric pressure, temperature, carbon dioxide and humidity.
Through these smart sensors, organizations can immediately detect if there is carbon monoxide, methane, ozone, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen monoxide and black carbon present in the air. With this data, organizations can figure out the causes of pollution in their buildings. In some cases, sensors are able to identify gas concentrations that are as low as 0.1 parts per million.
Sustainable Transportation
Any company that uses transportation systems can benefit from the IoT. With IoT, cities can make traffic systems more efficient. As the global population increases, our transportation systems will need to adjust. The IoT can help make faster, smoother and more fuel-efficient systems.
In cities, many drivers waste gas as they search around for available parking spaces. The IoT can help reduce the time and gas costs spent on finding parking spaces in the city. In addition, using the IoT for autonomous vehicles can reduce fuel costs and car accidents. As a result, the IoT can even save human lives.
The IoT Can Create a More Sustainable Future
By 2025, researchers estimate that the IoT will have an economic impact worth $11.1 trillion. Organizations can use IoT to reach their sustainability goals. With the IoT, you can improve air and water quality for your organization and the entire planet. Davra is propelling change through IoT devices and platforms. From smart buildings to transportation, Davra can help your company reach its sustainability goals through the power of the IoT. To find out more, get in touch today.
Author
Brian McGlynn, Davra, COO
