WHAT THE INTERNET
OF THINGS IS?
The Internet of things (IoT) is the inter-networking of physical devices, vehicles (also called to as "connected devices" and "smart devices"), buildings, and other items—embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and network connectivity that enable these objects to collect and exchange data. In 2013 the Global Standards Initiative on Internet of Things (IoT-GSI) defined the IoT as "the infrastructure of the information society." The IoT allows objects to be sensed or controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration of the physical world into computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit in addition to reduced human intervention. When IoT is augmented with sensors and actuators, the technology becomes an instance of the more general class of cyber-physical systems, which also encompasses technologies such as smart grids, smart homes, intelligent transportation and smart cities.
Typically, IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications. The interconnection of these embedded devices (including smart objects), is expected to usher in automation in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced applications like a smart grid, and expanding to areas such as smart cities.
"Things," in the IoT sense, can refer to a wide variety of devices such as heart monitoring implants, biochip transponders on farm animals, electric clams in coastal waters, automobiles with built-in sensors, DNA analysis devices for environmental/food/pathogen monitoring or field operation devices that assist firefighters in search and rescue operations. These devices collect useful data with the help of various existing technologies and then autonomously flow the data between other devices.
As well as the expansion of Internet-connected automation into a plethora of new application areas, IoT is also expected, to generate large amounts of data from diverse locations, with the consequent necessity for quick aggregation of the data, and an increase in the need to index, store, and process such data more effectively. IoT is one of the platforms of today's Smart City, and Smart Energy Management Systems.
IoT APPLICATION
Smart Cities
1. Smart Parking - Monitoring of parking spaces availability in the city.
2. Structural health - Monitoring of vibrations and material conditions in buildings, bridges and historical monuments.
3. Noise Urban Maps - Sound monitoring in bar areas and centric zones in real time.
4. Smartphone Detection- Detect and identify iPhone and Android devices and in general any device which works with WiFi or Bluetooth interfaces.
5. Electromagnetic Field Levels - Measurement of the energy radiated by cell stations, WiFi routers and other radio emitting devices.
6. Traffic Congestion - Monitoring of vehicles and pedestrian levels to optimize and offload driving and walking routes.
7. Smart Lighting - Intelligent and weather adaptive lighting in streetlights.
8. Waste Management - Detection of rubbish levels in containers to optimize the trash collection routes.
9. Smart Roads - Intelligent Highways with warning messages and diversions according to climate conditions and unexpected events like
accidents or traffic jams and congestions.
Smart Enviroment
10. Forest Fire Detection - Monitoring of combustion gases and preemptive fire conditions to define alert zones.
11. Air Pollution - Control of CO2 emissions of factories, pollution emitted by cars and toxic gases generated in farms.
12. Snow Level Monitoring - Snow level measurement to know in real time the quality of ski tracks and allow security corps avalanche
prevention.
13. Landslide and Avalanche Prevention - Monitoring of soil moisture, vibrations and earth density to detect dangerous patterns in land
conditions.
14. Earthquake Early Detection - Distributed control in specific places of tremors.
Smart Water
15. Potable water monitoring - Monitor the quality of tap water in cities.
16. Chemical leakage detection in rivers - Detect leakages and wastes of factories in rivers.
17. Swimming pool remote measurement - Control remotely the swimming pool conditions.
18. Pollution levels in the sea - Control real-time leakages and wastes in the sea.
19. Water Leakages - Detection of liquid presence outside tanks and pressure variations along pipes.
20. River Floods - Monitoring of water level variations in rivers, dams and reservoirs.
Smart Metering
21. Smart Grid - Energy consumption monitoring and management.
22. Tank level - Monitoring of water, oil and gas levels in storage tanks and cisterns.
23. Photovoltaic Installations - Monitoring and optimization of performance in solar energy plants.
24. Water Flow - Measurement of water pressure in water transportation systems.
25. Silos Stock Calculation - Measurement of emptiness level and weight of the goods.
Security & Emergency
Retail
26. Perimeter Access Control - Access control to restricted areas and detection of people in non-authorized areas.
27. Liquid Presence - Liquid detection in data centers, warehouses and sensitive building grounds to prevent breakdowns and corrosion.
28. Radiation Levels - Distributed measurement of radiation levels in nuclear power stations surroundings to generate leakage alerts.
29. Explosive and Hazardous Gases - Detection of gas levels and leakages in industrial environments, surroundings of chemical factories and inside mines.
30. Supply Chain Control - Monitoring of storage conditions along the supply chain and product tracking for traceability purposes.
31. NFC Payment - Payment processing based in location or activity duration for public transport, gyms, theme parks, etc.
32. Intelligent Shopping Applications - Getting advices in the point of sale according to customer habits, preferences, presence of allergic
components for them or expiring dates.
33. Smart Product Management - Control of rotation of products in shelves and warehouses to automate restocking processes.
Security & Emergency
Logistics
Security & Emergency
34. Quality of Shipment Conditions - Monitoring of vibrations, strokes, container openings or cold chain maintenance for insurance purposes.
35. Item Location - Search of individual items in big surfaces like warehouses or harbours.
36. Storage Incompatibility Detection - Warning emission on containers storing inflammable goods closed to others containing explosive
material.
37. Fleet Tracking - Control of routes followed for delicate goods like medical drugs, jewels or dangerous merchandises.
Security & Emergency
Industrial Control
38. M2M Applications - Machine auto-diagnosis and assets control.
39. Indoor Air Quality - Monitoring of toxic gas and oxygen levels inside chemical plants to ensure workers and goods safety.
40. Temperature Monitoring - Control of temperature inside industrial and medical fridges with sensitive merchandise and explicit
temperature requirements.
41. Ozone Presence - Monitoring of ozone levels during the drying meat process in food factories.
42. Indoor Location - Asset indoor location by using active (ZigBee) and passive tags (RFID/NFC).
43. Vehicle Auto-diagnosis - Information collection from CanBus to send real time alarms to emergencies or provide advice to drivers.
Security & Emergency
Smart Agriculture
44. Wine Quality Enhancing - Monitoring soil moisture and trunk diameter in vineyards to control the amount of sugar in grapes and
grapevine health.
45. Green Houses - Control micro-climate conditions to maximize the production of fruits and vegetables and its quality.
46. Golf Courses - Selective irrigation in dry zones to reduce the water resources required in the green.
47. Meteorological Station Network - Study of weather conditions in fields to forecast ice formation, rain, drought, snow or wind changes.
48. Compost - Control of humidity and temperature levels in alfalfa, hay, straw, etc. to prevent fungus and other microbial contaminants.
49. Hydroponics - Control the exact conditions of plants grown in water to get the highest efficiency crops.
Smart Animal Farming
50. Offspring Care - Control of growing conditions of the offspring in animal farms to ensure its survival and health.
51. Animal Tracking - Location and identification of animals grazing in open pastures or location in big stables.
52. Toxic Gas Levels - Study of ventilation and air quality in farms and detection of harmful gases from excrements.
Security & Emergency
Domotinc & Home Application
53. Energy and Water Use - Energy and water supply consumption monitoring to obtain advice on how to save cost and resources.
54. Remote Control Appliances - Switching on and off remotely appliances to avoid accidents and save energy.
55. Intrusion Detection Systems - Detection of windows and doors openings and violations to prevent intruders.
56. Art and Goods Preservation - Monitoring of conditions inside museums and art warehouses.
E-Health
57. Fall Detection - Assistance for elderly or disabled people living independent.
58. Medical Fridges - Control of conditions inside freezers storing vaccines, medicines and organic elements.
59. Sportsmen Care - Vital signs monitoring in high performance centers and fields.
60. Patients Surveillance - Monitoring of conditions of patients inside hospitals and in old people's home.
61. Ultraviolet Radiation - Measurement of UV sun rays to warn people not to be exposed in certain hours.