Chapter - 2

Modern world approach towards built environment

(Internet of Things and the ‘Smart Concept’)

Contents :

 Domestic and home automation – Energy and water use, remote

control appliances, intrusion detection systems
 Smart cities - smart parking, structural health, noise urban maps,
electromagnetic field levels, smart lighting, smart roads
 Smart environment - forest fire detection, air pollution control, snow
level monitoring, landslide and avalanche prevention, earthquake
early detection
 Smart water - potable water monitoring, chemical leakage detection
in rivers, swimming pool remote measurement, water leakages, river
floods
 Smart metering - smart grid, monitoring of tank level, water flow
 Security and emergencies - Perimeter access control, liquid presence,
radiation levels, explosive and hazardous gases
 Smart retail- Supply chain control, NFC Payment, Smart product
management

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a) Domestic and home automation – Energy and water use, remote control
appliances, intrusion detection systems :

Domestic automation is a network of hardware, communication, and electronic interfaces that

work to integrate everyday devices with one another via the Internet. Each device has sensors
and is connected through WiFi, so you can manage them from your smartphone or tablet
whether you're at home, or miles away.

Domestic automation is a network of hardware, communication, and electronic

interfacesDomestic automation is a network of hardware, communication, and electronic
interfaces that work to integrate everyday devices with one another via the Internet. Each
device has sensors and is connected through WiFi, so you can manage them from your
smartphone or tablet whether you’re at home, or miles away. This allows you to turn on the
lights, lock the front door, or even turn down the heat, no matter where you are.There are
three main elements of a home automation system: sensors, controllers, and actuators.

Sensors can monitor changes in daylight, temperature, or motion detection. Home

automation systems can then adjust those settings (and more) to your preferences.

Controllers refer to the devices — personal computers, tablets or smartphones — used to

send and receive messages about the status of automated features in your home.

Actuators may be light switches, motors, or motorized valves that control the actual
mechanism, or function, of a home automation system. They are programmed to be activated
by a remote command from a controller.

Home automation systems offer a variety of services and functions. Some of the more
common features available through these platforms include:

 Fire and carbon monoxide monitoring

 Remote lighting control
 Thermostat control
 Appliance control
 Home automation security systems and cameras
 Live video surveillance
 Alarm systems

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  Real-time text and email alerts
 Digital personal assistant integration
 Keyless entry
 Voice-activated control

Benefits of Home Automation -

The purpose of a home automation system is to streamline how your home functions.
Consider some of these benefits:

Remote access : Control your home from mobile devices, including your laptop, tablet, or
smartphone.

Comfort : Use home automation to make your home a more comfortable, liveable space.
Pre-program your thermostat with your preferred settings so that your home is always at a
comfortable temperature, set up smart speakers to play music when you get home from work,
or adjust your lights to soften or brighten based on the time of day.

Convenience : Program devices to turn on automatically at certain times, or access their

settings remotely from anywhere with an Internet connection. When you don’t have to
remember to lock the door behind you or switch off the lights, you can turn your attention to
more important things.

Increased safety : Smart fire detectors, carbon monoxide monitors, pressure sensors, and
other home automation security features can help protect your home from disaster.

Energy efficiency : Home automation allows you to be more mindful of your power usage.
For example, you can save on energy bills by reducing the length of time that lights stay on,
or by lowering temperatures when you leave a room. that work to integrate everyday devices
with one another via the Internet.

Basic home automation sensors include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, light sensors,
and gas sensors. Data in the form of signals from these sensors can be used to control the
various appliances directly without any human intervention.

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Intrusion Detection System -

An intrusion alarm system is a system whose aim is to monitor and detect unauthorized
access to a building. These systems are used for different purposes and in different contexts
both residential or commercial. Intrusion detection systems primarily use two key intrusion
detection methods: signature-based intrusion detection and anomaly-based intrusion
detection. Signature-based intrusion detection is designed to detect possible threats by
comparing given network traffic and log data to existing attack patterns. An Intrusion
Detection and Prevention System (IDPS) monitors network traffic for indications of an
attack, alerting administrators to possible attacks. IDPS solutions monitor traffic for patterns
that match with known attacks.

b) Smart cities- smart parking, structural health, noise urban maps,

electromagnetic field levels, smart lighting, smart roads :
A smart city is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic
methods, voice activation methods and sensors to collect specific data. Information gained
from that data are used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that
data is used to improve the operations across the city. This includes data collected from
citizens, devices, buildings and assets that is then processed and analyzed to monitor and
manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply
networks, waste, crime detection, A smart city uses information and communication
technology (ICT) to improve operational efficiency, share information with the public and
provide a better quality of government service and citizen welfare. ... Confident and
progressive city plans. People able to live and work within the city, using its resources.

Smart packaging refers to packaging systems with embedded sensor technology used with
foods, pharmaceuticals, and many other types of products. It is used to extend shelf life,
monitor freshness, display information on quality, and improve product and customer safety.
Smart packaging refers to packaging systems with embedded sensor technology used with
foods, pharmaceuticals, and many other types of products. It is used to extend shelf life,
monitor freshness, display information on quality, and improve product and customer
safety. Smart (or intelligent) packaging for goods is packaging which goes beyond the basic

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function of passively containing and protecting the product by adding useful functionality
with real benefits for the consumer.

Cities that are adopting innovative and technology-driven solutions to improve the city's
efficiency are considered smart cities. With the increased attention on smart cities with self-
driving vehicles, drones, and robots, designing smart infrastructure is only a natural
extension. Smart infrastructures aim to self-diagnose, self-power, self-adapt, and self-heal
during normal and extreme operating conditions. Structural vibration control (SVC) and
structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies, in particular, are expected to play pivotal
roles in the development of modern smart and resilient structures.

structural health (or structural monitoring) is an essential part of modern urban infrastructure.
As the name suggests, it involves closely monitoring the performance of the structures that
constitute modern towns and cities, especially those which may be vulnerable to processes
like erosion, subsidence or other forms of decay. SHM can be applied to all forms of
buildings or structures, from ancient buildings which have been standing for thousands of
years, to bridges that are under construction in earthquake zones.

A noise map is an important tool for observing and controlling noise pollution and the
basis for epidemiology study relating annoyance to noise and noise exposure in urban areas.
A noise map is a graphic representation of the sound level distribution and the
propagation of sound waves in a given region, for a defined period.

Noise Map is the tool to represent the distribution of sound level in a graphical manner. Noise
mapping can help identify the amount of noise in a particular region at a given time. There
are various ways through which this tool can contribute to smart city applications. The
mapping of noise is trickier and innovative in the form of its implementation. Therefore,
Noise mapping has a particular set of applications pertaining to noise pollution or
environmental noise. Noise mapping is a data-driven system, just like any other IoT
application. Noise gathering infrastructures require capturing of noise data at specific
intervals of time. Moreover, these systems have to take data from famous and reliable
reference points. After collecting the data, these systems calculate average equivalent noise
levels. This data is then essentially mapped on with a GIS to provide a graphical
representation to the end-users through the internet. Once available, this data is recorded in

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 the database as long as needed. Otherwise, it is always available on mobile devices and
computers for instantaneous monitoring and alerts.

Electromagnetic Field Levels -

Electromagnetic fields are a combination of invisible electric and magnetic fields of force.
They are generated by natural phenomena like the Earth’s magnetic field but also by human
activities, mainly through the use of electricity.
Mobile phones, power lines and computer screens are examples of equipment that
generates electromagnetic fields.

Most man-made electromagnetic fields reverse their direction at regular intervals of time,
ranging from high radio frequencies (mobile phones) through intermediate
frequencies (computer screens) to extremely low frequencies (power lines).
The term static refers to fields that do not vary with time (i.e. with a frequency of 0 Hz).
Static magnetic fields are used in medical imaging and generated by appliances using direct
current.

Typical sources of electromagnetic fields

Frequency
Frequencies Some examples of exposure sources
range

video display units; MRI (medical imaging) and

Static 0 Hz other diagnostic or scientific instrumentation;
industrial electrolysis; welding devices

power lines; domestic distribution lines; domestic

ELF [Extremely
0-300 Hz appliances; electric engines in cars, trains and
Low Frequencies]
tramways; welding devices

video display units; anti-theft devices in shops;

IF [Intermediate 300 Hz - 100
hands-free access control systems, card readers and
Frequencies] kHz
metal detectors; MRI; welding devices

mobile telephones; broadcasting and TV;

RF [Radio 100 kHz - 300
microwave ovens; radar and radio transceivers;
Frequencies] GHz
portable radios; MRI

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Characteristics of Electromagnetic Fields EMF is a combination of electrical and magnetic
fields. The strength of an EMF is directly related to the amount of electricity in use (the
current) and to the electrical potential (the voltage) in the electric circuit. That means the
more current or the higher the voltage, the greater the EMF which could be generated.
Electric fields are measured in volts per meter (V/m). A one volt electrical potential one
meter away will have an electric field of 1 V/m. This is a very small field, so it is common to
see measurements which are thousands of volts per meter (kV/m). The standard unit of
magnetic field strength is called the tesla (T). The tesla is a very large unit, so measured
magnetic fields are often only a few millionths of a tesla, called a microtesla (µT). An older,
nonstandard unit of magnetic field is the gauss (G). 10,000 gauss = 1 tesla. An important
characteristic of an EMF is the frequency of the electrical source. Frequency is the change in
the flow of electric current over time. It can range from zero for a direct current (DC) to
several millions of cycles per second. The unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz), which is equal
to one electrical cycle per second. In North America, the frequency of the electrical power
system is 60 Hz. Europe and other parts of the world use 50 Hz electricity. Three phase
electrical devices may have EMFs with a frequency of 180 Hz. Fields at other frequencies
arise when devices modify the electricity, such as computer video screens

Smart Lighting -

Smart lighting is an advanced way to light your home. Smart LED bulbs contain software
that connects to an app, smart home assistant, or other smart accessory so you can automate
your lights or control them remotely, eliminating the need for traditional wall switches.
Smart lighting is a lighting technology designed for energy efficiency, convenience and
security. This may include high efficiency fixtures and automated controls that make
adjustments based on conditions such as occupancy or daylight availability. Lighting is the
deliberate application of light to achieve some aesthetic or practical effect (e.g. illumination
of a security breach). It includes task lighting, accent lighting, and general lighting.

Benefits of Smart Lighting -

 Switch the lights on or off remotely. There was a time when wealthy people had light
switches near their beds so that they didn't have to get up to turn off the lights from
the wall switch before going to bed.
 Scheduling.

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  Motion detectors.
 Lights as notification.
 Energy savings.
 Ambience.

Smart road technology can track vehicles and adjust traffic lights when there are fewer
or no cars approaching, helping prevent bumper-to-bumper traffic. This could help drivers
and passengers save 9.4 hours each year. 1. Improved traffic and pedestrian safety. Rather
than using asphalt to pave roads, solar powered roadways use panels of tempered glass
containing photovoltaic cells, LEDs and microprocessors. As a result, cars would
experience benefits like snow-melting heating devices, charging capabilities and safer
stopping ability.

Five of the best Smart Highway Features -

 Smart Lighting. A Smart Highway utilises sensor-based lighting which is activated

only when movement is detected.
 Cashless Tolls.
 Variable Speed Limits.
 Solar energy.
 Kinetic energy.
A smart motorway is a section of a motorway that uses traffic management methods to
increase capacity and reduce congestion in particularly busy areas. These methods
include using the hard shoulder as a running lane and using variable speed limits to control
the flow of traffic.

Benefits of Smart City Roads -

Multimodal sensors and edge computing help speed up the flow of traffic with real-time
processing, reducing congestion and emissions. Smart road technology will help optimize traffic flow
and improve safety. It can also help give citizens back nearly 60 hours per year.
Smart roads use Internet of Things (IoT) devices to make driving safer, more efficient, and in
line with government objectives, greener. Smart roads combine physical infrastructures such
as sensors and solar panels with software infrastructure like AI and big data.

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Smart road technologies are embedded in roads and can improve visibility, generate energy,
communicate with autonomous and connected vehicles, monitor road conditions, and more.

Here are a few examples :

 IoT connectivity: Cities can connect roads to IoT devices, and gather traffic
and weather data. This type of connectivity can improve safety, traffic
management, and energy efficiency.
 Traffic management networks: For improving safety and reducing congestion.
The network uses speed cameras to provide warning signs for hazardous
conditions, and sends automated traffic diversion signals that control traffic.
 Traffic lights optimization: Systems that use data from closed-circuit
television (CCTV) cameras or smart vehicles to optimize traffic lights and update
commuters on jams or bottlenecks.

Most transport-related smart tech focus on individual vehicles, although there have been
major advances in technological solutions for smart infrastructure at scale. Worldwide
experiments in Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I), Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to
Pedestrian (V2P) technologies will make urban transport smarter in the future.

Digital Reality : 7 Smart Road technologies -

1. Solar powered roadways -

Photovoltaic cells are embedded within hexagonal panels made of tempered glass, which are
used to pave roads. These panels contain LEDs, microprocessors, snow-melting heating
devices and inductive charging capability for electric vehicles when driving. Glass is
renewable and can be engineered to be stronger than steel, and to allow cars to stop safely
even when traveling at high speeds. While this idea has gained widespread support,
scalability is a challenge as it remains expensive.

2. Smart Roads -

Specially engineered roadways fitted with smart features, including sensors that monitor and
report changing road conditions, and WiFi transmitters that provide broadband services to
vehicles, homes and businesses. The smart road can also charge electric cars as they drive.

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3. Glow in the dark roads -

Glowing markers painted onto existing roadway surfaces use a photo-luminescent powder
that absorbs and stores daylight. The 500m long strips glow for 8 hours after dark. This
technology is still in the testing phase, and the glow is not yet consistent, but it could be more
cost-effective than traditional road lighting technologies.

4. Interactive lights -

Road lights activated by motion sensors to illuminate a particular section of the road such as
cars approach. The lights dim once the car passes. Suited for roads with less traffic,
interactive lights provide night visibility as needed and reduce energy wastage when there are
no cars. One design, developed in Holland, uses the wind generated by passing vehicles to
power lights.

5. Electric priority lane for charging electric vehicles -

Embedded cables generate magnetic fields that charge electric vehicles while driving. A
receiver coil in the vehicle picks up electromagnetic oscillations from a transmitter coil
embedded in the road and converts them to AC, which can then power the car. Inductive
charging technology already exists for static cars, but future wireless technology could charge
batteries while in motion, providing distance range solutions for electric vehicles which travel
longer journeys.

6. Weather detection -

Networks of AI-integrated sensors detect weather conditions that impact road safety. Road
Weather Information Systems (RWIS) in use today are limited because they only collect data
from a small set of weather stations. A larger future network could use automated weather
stations to collect atmospheric and weather data and instantly upload it to the cloud. Dynamic
temperature-sensitive paint could be used to highlight invisible roadway conditions like black
ice.

7. Traffic detection -

Data that helps travellers plan their routes. Sensors lining highways monitor traffic flow and
weight load, warn drivers of traffic jams, and automatically alert the authorities about
accidents. Fiber-optic cables embedded in the road detect wear and tear, and communication

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between vehicles and roads can improve traffic management. For example, rapid flow
technologies use artificial intelligence (AI) to manage traffic lights, which respond to each
other and to cars. Traditional systems were pre-programmed to optimize flow around peak
journey times, new technologies are able to process and optimize flows in real time.

c) Smart environment- forest fire detection, air pollution control, snow

level monitoring, landslide and avalanche prevention, earthquake early
detection :

Smart Environment -

1. The idea to build an environment with embedded sensors, displays, and computing
devices so that users can better understand and control the environment.

2. Smart environment is an assembly of sensors, actuators and many computational

elements providing services for betterment of human life.

3. Aspect of a smart city concerning the control and monitoring of environmental factors
such as pollution, waste, planning of green areas, and energy.

4. A physical world interwoven with invisible sensors, actuators, displays, and computational
elements. These computing elements are generally embedded seamlessly in everyday objects
and networked to each other and beyond (the internet, usually).

5. Effective use of public natural resources means avoiding fossil fuels, reducing carbon
footprint, meeting energy needs from alternative energy sources, and using clean energy in
transportation to manage the environment.

6. It is a physical space which is smart in nature. The smartness of this environment is a

product of interaction of different devices and computing systems.

7. Smart environment is a concept that emerged in the early 1990s where city residents are
continuously interacting with objects and sensors seamlessly to better their lives.

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8. An ecosystem of interacting objects, e.g. sensors, devices, appliances and embedded
systems in general, that have the capability to self-organize, to provide services and
manipulate/publish complex data.

9. Is a concept of the physical world that is richly and invisibly interwoven with sensors,
actuators, displays, and computational elements, embedded seamlessly in the everyday
objects of our lives, and connected through a continuous network.

Forest fire detection -

One of the ways fires are detected is by lookout stations. These are situated at a location
with extensive visibility and have associated structures manned by a lookout observer whose
prime purpose is to locate and report wildfires. A network of five look out stations are spread
throughout the NWT. A number of early forest fire detection methods have been proposed
using various remote sensing systems based on infrared thermal camera (Therma-
cam) imaging, airborne or ground-based Lidar and Satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar
(SAR) imaging techniques In the IoT-based forest fire detection system, different sensors are
deployed in the forest area. Each node monitors the surrounding area in the forest. Sensor
node collects the surrounding information like temperature, humidity, gas. ... Feed-forward
fully connected neural network is used to predict the forest fire.

Air pollution control -

Air pollution control, the techniques employed to reduce or eliminate the emission into
the atmosphere of substances that can harm the environment or human health. The best way
to protect air quality is to reduce the emission of pollutants by changing to cleaner fuels and
processes. (The control of air pollution from mobile sources is described in emission-control
system.) Air filters are devices used to control air pollution which employ a specific type of
filtration media — e.g., fabric, sintered metal, ceramic, etc. — to collect and remove dry
particulates and contaminants, such as dust, pollen, microbes, chemicals, etc. from air passing
through them. Latest techniques of air pollution control are: Combustion – This method is
applied when the pollutants are organic gases or vapours. The organic air pollutants are

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exposed to 'flame or catalytic combustion' when they are converted to less harmful product
carbon dioxide and product water. Scrubbers are air pollution control devices that use liquid
to remove particulate matter or gases from an industrial exhaust or flue gas stream. This
atomized liquid (typically water) entrains particles and pollutant gases in order to effectively
wash them out of the gas flow.

Snow Level Monitoring -

Snow cover monitoring is a method of measuring the static load on the structure, which
allows us to estimate the permissible dynamic load caused by strong winds. The following
can be used for monitoring snow deposits on roofs.
 Snow gauge: the measurement of snow thickness is carried out by means of a graduated
rod, which is driven each time or mounted on the roof surface
 Ultrasonic snow depth sensor: the measurement is carried out by ultrasonic measurement of
the distance from the ultrasonic head placed at a known height to the snow cover. In both
methods, we can only measure the thickness of the snow, without the possibility to determine
its mass;
 Snow weight: the measurement of masses of snow is made directly by the placement of an
electronic weight with a known surface, on the roof.

landslide and avalanche prevention -

The main difference between landslide and avalanche is that landslides occur on land
whereas avalanches occur on snow. Both landslide and avalanche refer to the movement of a
large stationary mass under the force of gravity. These are very dangerous processes that can
cause many damages and deaths. Landslides and avalanches are defined according to the size
or type of debris generated, distance moved, speed of flow and underlying geology. There are
also various direct methods of preventing landslides; these include modifying slope
geometry, using chemical agents to reinforce slope material, installing structures such as piles
and retaining walls, grouting rock joints and fissures, diverting debris pathways, and
rerouting surface and underwater drainage. Additionally, the avalanches can be controlled
by special fences, nets, or artificial walls that can impact what the snowfall is going to do and
which direction the snowfall will go in. Explosives will loosen small buildups of snow, which
will prevent larger buildups from occurring.

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Earthquake early detection -

Earthquake warning system or earthquake early warning system is a system

of accelerometers, seismometers, communication, computers, and alarms that is devised for
notifying adjoining regions of a substantial earthquake while it is in progress. This is not the
same as earthquake prediction, which is currently incapable of producing decisive event
warnings. Early-warning alerts are typically delivered three to five seconds after an
earthquake starts. That's the time it takes for seismic waves to travel to the closest stations,
and for computers to analyse the data. If you are less than 10 miles from the epicentre, it is
unlikely you will get a warning. Earthquake lights have been observed as short, blue flames
coming up from the ground, as orbs of light that float in the air, or as huge forks of light
that look like lightening shooting up from the ground.

d) Smart water - potable water monitoring, chemical leakage detection in

rivers, swimming pool remote measurement, water leakages, river floods

The Energy Water Monitoring System gives you the power to monitor your water usage, by
combining software, hardware, wireless communications and sensors, Energy industry-
leading IoT water monitoring and analytics solutions help industries and hotels to increase
productivity, and compliance while enhancing safety, Water Quality Monitoring (WQM) is
a cost-effective and efficient system designed to monitor drinking water quality which makes
use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. ... The obtained data is sent to the cloud by using
IoT based Think Speak application to monitor the quality of the water. Water sensors detect
the presence of water and, when placed in locations where water should not be present, a
leak. When Wi-Fi is enabled, the sensor can send out a notification to the homeowner
through a smartphone app. The system consist of several sensors is used to measuring
physical and chemical parameters of the water. The parameters such as temperature, PH,
turbidity, flow sensor of the water can be measured. The measured values from the sensors
can be processed by the core controller.

Chemical leakage detection in rivers :

Due to dripping faucets and water leakages as waste water in Riverside, it is necessary to
detect the amount of water leakage. The smallest of drips and water leaks around your home

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should be repaired. A slow drip can waste as much as 15 to 20 gallons of water per day.
Many water leaks are easy to fix. Others may require a plumber. Call Option One Plumbing
and one of our certified plumbers in Riverside will come by to help. Acoustic loggers are a
major part of our leak detection technology. They pick up vibrations from a leak when they're
attached to a pipe.

We also have pressure loggers, permanently assessing the pressure levels in our pipes. These
are able to detect changes in flow and pressure. The most commonly used leak test methods
are underwater bubble test, bubble soap paint, pressure and vacuum decay, and tracer gas
detectors (halogen, helium and hydrogen). Leakage, breaks or blockage on drain, sewer lines
or septic systems can be found by inserting a sewer camera down the drain and look at the
condition of the pipe and locate the break. This includes leakage of hazardous sewer gases
that contain highly flammable methane gases. Sewer or drain line leaks often are the source
of water damage in homes, as well as noxious sewer smells. Sewer leaks are also known as
drain leaks, vent pipe leaks. Sewer leaks and drain leaks are easily repaired once the exact
location is detected.

Typical devices used include acoustic emission detectors, fiber optic sensors, negative
pressure detectors, ultrasonic technologies, and infrared thermograph. Leak detection helps
home owners to detect and pinpoint all water leaks regardless of their size, or how hidden
they are. We can comfortably say that our leak detection methodologies have an accuracy
rate of over 90%.

Swimming pool remote measurement -

The size of an inground pool, on average, often depends greatly on the material it's made out
of. For vinyl pools, there are three primary sizes that people consider are usually 16 feet by
32 feet, 18 feet by 36 feet, and 20 feet by 40 feet. Out of these rectangular shapes, 16 feet by
32 feet is the most common choice. Length: Most pools in the world are measured in metres
or feet. Most Common Vinyl Pools Sizes:

 16 x 32 Rectangle (most popular)

 18 x 36 Rectangle.
 20 x 40 Rectangle.
In general, the most common inground pool sizes are:

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  5-10 ft long (spa size)
 10-15 ft. long.
 15-20 ft. long.
 20-25 ft. long (for a small to medium-sized family)
 25-30 ft. long.
 30-35 ft. long.
 35-40 ft. long.
 40-45 ft. long (for the serious swimmer!)
 Measuring oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), pH and Chloride levels of water can
determine if the water quality in swimming pools and spas is sufficient for
recreational purposes.
 The Smart Water platform is an ultra low-power sensor node designed for use in
rugged environments and deployment in Smart Cities in hard-to-access locations to
detect changes and potential risk to public health in real time.
 It may use cellular (3G, GPRS, WCDMA) and long range 802.15.4/ZigBee
(868/900MHz) connectivity to send information to the Cloud, and can accommodate
solar panels that charge the battery to maintain autonomy. Smart Water nodes are
ready to deploy out of the box and sensor probes can be recalibrated or changed in the
field.

Water leakages -

A leakage is an amount of liquid or gas that is escaping from a pipe or container by means of
a crack, hole, or other fault. A leakage of kerosene has polluted water supplies. significant
amount of water is lost in the water supply system. Water leakages have been a major
problem for many regions around the world. In some countries water loss due to water
leakages in the supply network exceeds 40% of the water in the supply system Rapid
temperature changes. One of the most well-known causes of water leaks — especially in the
winter — are pipes that burst after the water inside them begins to freeze and expand. The
pipe eventually ruptures when that pressure becomes too much for it to contain.The most
common types of leaks we get called for include: Pipe leaks under sinks. Slab
leaks/Foundational leaks. Leaks behind drywall.Six Signs of a Water Leak in Your Home

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  Unusually High Water Bill. Water bills normally remain consistent, with no more
than a $10-$15 variance from month-to-month.
 The Sound of Running Water.
 Wet or Damp Floors.
 Foul Odours.
 Overgrowth in the Lawn.
 Wall Cracks.

Water is a daily necessary resource for life, health, economic development and the ecosystem
all over the world. As water is precious to everyone, its availability and quality are essential.
Climate change, droughts, water shortages and population growth are increasing the strain on
existing water resources, thereby increasing the necessity to preserve and avoid water
wastage through effective management and reduction of water losses.

A significant amount of water is lost in the water supply system. Water leakages have been a
major problem for many regions around the world. In some countries water loss due to water
leakages in the supply network exceeds 40% of the water in the supply system Reduction of
water leakages is an important goal for many countries in the world, as it will mean a
reduction in the amount of money and energy required on producing and pumpingwater and
also satisfaction of consumer needs through improved reliability of the system.

River floods -

River flood occurs when a river overspills its banks; that is, when its flow can no longer be
contained within its channel. Flooding is a natural and regular reality for many rivers,
helping sculpt soil and spread nutrients in alluvial valleys and supporting many ecosystems
– such as swamps and bottomland forests – adapted to occasional inundation.

River floods have also been life-giving forces for human societies dependent on them for
agriculture and soil fertility. Nonetheless, humans often perceive floods negatively because
of the damage and loss of life they often wreak where natural floodways have become
heavily developed and populated.

fluvial, or river flood, occurs when the water level in a river, lake or stream rises and
overflows onto the surrounding banks, shores and neighbouring land. In hilly or mountainous

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areas, floods can occur within minutes after a heavy rain, drain very quickly, and cause
damage due to debris flow. A fluvial, or river flood, occurs when the water level in a river,
lake or stream rises and overflows onto the surrounding banks, shores and neighbouring land.
The water level rise could be due to excessive rain or snowmelt. River floodplains and coastal
areas are the most susceptible to flooding, however, it is possible for flooding to occur in
areas with unusually long periods of heavy rainfall. Flood types are -

 Flash floods.
 Coastal floods.
 Urban floods.
 River (or fluvial) floods.
 Ponding (or pluvial flooding)

Impact of flooding on the environment -

Silt and sediment can destroy crops on farms. river banks and natural levées can be
eliminated as rivers reach bankfull capacity. rivers can be widened, and deposition can
increase downstream. trees can be uprooted by high-velocity water flow.

e) Smart metering - smart grid, monitoring of tank level, water flow :

Smart metering -

A smart meter is an Internet-capable device that measures energy, water or natural gas
consumption of a building or home. Power companies are deploying smart meters to monitor
consumer usage and adjust prices according to the time of day and season.device that records
consumption of electric energy in intervals of an hour or less and communicates that
information at least daily back to the utility for monitoring and billing. Smart meters enable
two-way communication between the meter and the central system. Smart metering is the
monitoring of resource consumption, such as energy, water, gas, etc., through modern
metering devices connected to the Internet via IoT technology.Smart meters, which collect
consumption data and periodically send it to a central server for processing. ways you could
benefit from a smart meter

 You will get accurate bills.

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  You can see your usage.
 No more meter readings.
 See your credit.
 Top up more easily.
 Accessing your meter is no longer a chore.
 Switch between prepay and credit.
 Help shape country's infrastructure.

Smart grid -
Smart Grid is an Electrical Grid with Automation, Communication and IT systems that can
monitor power flows from points of generation to points of consumption (even down to
appliances level) and control the power flow or curtail the load to match generation in real
time or near real time. A smart grid is an electricity network enabling a two-way flow of
electricity and data with digital communications technology enabling to detect, react and pro-
act to changes in usage and multiple issues. Smart grid devices transmit information in such a
way that enables ordinary users, operators and automated devices to quickly respond to
changes in smart grid condition systems. Smart grid is equally advantageous for enterprises,
retail stores, hospitals, universities and multinational corporations. Smart grids have self-
healing capabilities and enable electricity customers to become active participants. the grid is
what delivers electricity from a power plant to your house. Accordingly, the Smart Grid is
characterized by following goal and functionalities:

 Consumer Participation.
 Real Time Pricing.
 Distributed Generation: Incorporation of renewable energy resources into the grid.
 Power System Efficiency.
 Power Quality.
 New products in terms of Value added Services (VAS)

Advantages of Smart Grids

 The definitive solution for managing the grids of the future.

 Introduction.

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  Energy savings through reducing consumption.
 Better customer service and more accurate bills.
 Fraud detection and technical losses.
 Reduced balancing cost.
 Increased competition.
 Levelling of the demand curve (Peak reduction).
Despite the advantages, there are drawbacks and challenges which pertain to Smart Grids:
One drawback is that completely reforming the existing electrical grid will be extremely
expensive and time consuming. Another drawback is that the real-time costs of smart meters
may adversely affect specific industries.

Monitoring of tank level -

Wireless tank monitoring lets you check fluid levels in multiple tanks, across multiple sites,
all from your computer or smartphone for real time access to data you can use to reduce your
costs, improve your efficiency and expand your customer base. Essentially, fuel tank
monitoring systems allow owners and operators to increase their operational efficiency by
real time tracking of key metrics involved in important decisions. ... This not only protects
your investment and minimizes lost fuel and downtime. Sensors used in tank level monitoring
are used to identify the levels of tank for a variety of liquids. It allows different users to track
the tank levels remotely without any physical human efforts like manual meter reading and
assessments.

Tank level monitoring provides a greater insight for tank depletion rates and also helps in
increasing the efficiency of inventory management. Manual inspection of tank level is time
consuming, error prone, expensive, unsafe, inaccurate. So, there is a high demand for
remotely accessing of the tank levels for monitoring the levels of tank in less time.

In tank level monitoring, different sensors are used to detect the levels of tank. Sensors like
ultrasound sensors, radar sensors, laser sensors, hall-effect sensors are high in demand to
identify tank levels and if the level of tank is below then the expected level then alert
messages are immediately reported to managers. Managers are responsible for ensuring and
improving operational efficiency so that the tank levels remains consistent.

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Benefits of Tank Level Monitoring -

1. Helps in eliminating human error and ensure consistent fill level reading.

2. Helps in monitoring the supplies remotely to improve inventory management and

ensure refilling and maintenance of tank when needed.

3. Reduces the cost of logistics involved in different areas like distribution, storage and
gas delivery.

4. Allows real time alert message when fuel levels is below or leaks occurs in the system
(tank).

5. Increases safety as there is no manual need for checking or monitoring the tank levels.

6. Compatible to any tank as this solution can be implemented to tank with any size,
shape, orientation with any liquid and material.

Applications of Tank Level Monitoring -

1. Oil Tank Level Monitoring

2. Water Tank Level Monitoring

3. Oil Tanker Monitoring

4. Diesel Fuel Tank Level Monitoring

Water flow -

Water flow is a flow or flowing of water. It is the amount of water flowing (as past a valve)
per unit of time. Streamflow, or channel runoff, is the flow of water in streams, rivers, and
other channels, and is a major element of the water cycle. Water flows due to gravity . As
water moves from a wider space to a narrow space the pressure and velocity of flow
increasesWithin a stream channel, three types flow can be observed:

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  Laminar flow - water flow in the stream is not altered in its direction. Water flows as
parallel molecular streams.
 Turbulent flow - water flows as discrete eddies and vortices. Caused by channel
topography and friction.
 Helical flow - spiral flow in a stream.

Static water, which comes primarily from lakes and ponds, is called lentic water. Flowing
water, which comes from streams and rivers, is called lotic water. Flow is a function of water
volume and velocity. It is important because of its impact on water quality and on the living
organisms and habitats in the stream. Large, swiftly flowing rivers can receive pollution
discharges and be little affected, whereas small streams have less capacity to dilute and
degrade wastes. The velocity of a river is determined by many factors, including the shape of
its channel, the gradient of the slope that the river moves along, the volume of water that the
river carries and the amount of friction caused by rough edges within the riverbed.

f) Security and emergencies- Perimeter access control, liquid presence,

radiation levels, explosive and hazardous gases :

Perimeter access control -

Physical perimeter security can be defined as systems and technologies that protect people
and assets within a facility and its grounds by blocking unauthorised physical intrusions
across the perimeter. Restricting access to your facilities with perimeter access controls can
help your organisation to reduce threats.

Some types of perimeter access controls are -

 Fences and Walls

 Pedestrian Barriers
 Vehicle Barriers.

Work out if your organisation needs perimeter access controls during your security risk
assessment and before you complete any site selection process.

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Fences and walls -

Fences and walls are used to define and secure the perimeter of a facility.

Fences might not be practical in urban environments, particularly in central business districts.

The level of protection a fence gives depends on its:

 Height, construction, material, and access control method

 Any additional features used to increase its performance or effectiveness, such as
topping, lighting, or connection to an external alarm or CCTV system.

If you choose to use fences or walls to deter unauthorised access, you must develop
supporting procedures for:

 Monitoring and maintaining the fences or walls

 Monitoring the grounds for unauthorised access.

Make sure any access points are at least as strong as any fence or wall you use.

Pedestrian barriers -

Pedestrian barriers are used to restrict access through fences or walls by controlling the entry
and exit points.

Examples of pedestrian barriers are -

 Locked Gates
 Gates connected to Electronic Access Control Systems (EACS) or Alarm Systems
 Guard Stations
 Turnstiles.

Vehicle barriers -

Vehicle barriers are used to prevent hostile vehicle attacks. Vehicle related threats range from
vandalism to sophisticated or aggressive attacks by determined criminals or terrorists.

Examples of vehicle barriers are:

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  Gates
 Retractable barriers or bollards
 Fences and Walls
 Bunds and Berms.

Liquid Presence -

Liquid presence detection systems are commonly used to monitor leaks, but in many cases,
they are placed at long intervals along a pipeline due to the high cost of deployment. Point
level measurement sensors are used to mark a single discrete liquid height–a preset level
condition. Generally, this type of sensor functions as a high alarm, signalling an overfill
condition, or as a marker for a low alarm condition. Float level transmitters are sensors with
an electrical transmission output for remote indication of liquid level. Available to be
customizable. Provides up to the minute tank level monitoring. Applications include gas &
oil and low specific gravity applications. Submersible.

Radiation Levels -

On average, Americans receive a radiation dose of about 0.62 rem (620 millirem) each
year. Half of this dose comes from natural background radiation. Most of this background
exposure comes from radon in the air, with smaller amounts from cosmic rays and the Earth
itself.

Category 5 means that radiation doses are dangerously high and potentially lethal.

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Category 4 means that radiation doses are dangerously high and can make people seriously
ill.

Category 3 means that radiation doses are becoming high enough where we may expect
increased risk of cancer in the years ahead for people who are exposed.

Category 2 means that radiation levels in the environment are higher than the natural
background radiation for that geographic area.

Category 1 means that radiation levels in the environment are within the range of natural
background radiation for that geographic area.

Explosive and hazardous gases:

Hazardous gases are those gases that are sufficiently toxic and/or reactive to meet one of the
definitions given below. They include acutely toxic, corrosive, flammable, dangerously
reactive and oxidizing gases. Inert compressed gases such as nitrogen, argon, and carbon
dioxide are not considered "Hazardous Gases".

g) Smart retail- Supply chain control, NFC Payment, Smart product

management :

Smart Retail -

According to smart retail devices market trends, smart retail devices industry takes
the assistance of internet of things (IoT) in its operation. ... With the rising adoption of IoT,
smart retail industries are also planning to implement it so as to offer a connected and richer
experience while shopping.SmartStores are stores that use smart technology, i.e., technology
consisting of RFID, smart shelves, smart scales, smart carts, and smart cards, etc.The
customers’ shopping cart is automatically scanned in an instant as the shopper walks out the
door.

Supply chain control -

A supply chain control tower is traditionally defined as a connected, personalized dashboard

of data, key business metrics and events across the supply chain. ... A smarter control tower
should provide end-to-end visibility across the supply chain — particularly into unforeseen

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external events.Supply chain management directly impacts product quality and the overall
profitability of a company. For these reasons, quality control in the supply chain is critical for
maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace and reducing operating costs.There are
three main flows of supply chain management: the product flow, the information flow, and
the finances flow.A supply chain is comprised of all the businesses and individual
contributors involved in creating a product, from raw materials to finished merchandise. ...
Examples of supply chain activities include farming, refining, design, manufacturing,
packaging, and transportation.

NFC Payment -

NFC payments are contactless payments that use near-field communication (NFC)
technology to exchange data between readers and payment devices like Google Pay e-wallets
in smartphones or tap-to-pay credit and debit cards. Such payments are being widely used as
they are contactless, encrypted and highly secured.To make a payment using NFC,

1. Unlock your phone.

2. Tap your phone on the payment terminal (currently only Pine Lab terminals are
supported).
3. Google Pay app will open automatically.
4. To confirm the amount to be paid, tap Proceed.

Smart product management -

A smart product is a data processing object, which has several interactive functions. A smart
product combines the physical and software interfaces. The usage of a smart product is
interactive and requires also some cognitive work by the user. The range of users is typically
really wide.

Product management is typically divided into three parts : strategic product management,
technical product management and Go-To-Market (product marketing), which is illustrated in
the Open Product Management Workflow model.Product management is the role and
function within an organization that is responsible for a product's overall success. Product
Managers work with groups inside and outside of the company to build and execute a plan to
make sure the product best meets its financial and strategic goals.Smart products can

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therefore be seen as products that contain information technology (IT) in the form of, for
example, micro-‐ chips, software, and sensors that are able to collect, process, and produce
information.Supply chain management is the management of the flow of goods and services
and includes all processes that transform raw materials into final products. It involves the
active streamlining of a business's supply-side activities to maximize customer value and
gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

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