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Smart City Technology & The Water Crisis
Sustainability is the name of the game these days for business and beyond – and it’s becoming increasingly important for all of us to start taking more responsibility for the impact we have on the planet.
The good news is that opportunities are rife in this regard and there are a plethora of ways in which you can choose to become more eco-friendly in your approach to life.
Technology is, of course, key where this is concerned and it’s likely that we’ll start to see more and more digital uptake as time goes on to help tackle climate change in a variety of different ways… with technology at the heart of all we do.
Evidence of this can already be seen in the adoption of smart city initiatives around the world. It’s estimated that by 2040, 65 per cent of the world’s population will be living in a city somewhere, so it will be interesting to see how information and communication technology is used in the future to improve the functionality of cities, supporting economic growth and improving quality of life for those who call these places home.
Smart cities are those that have their infrastructure based around technology, with environmental initiatives at the forefront and data analysis a vital part of the system so that problems can be addressed quickly and other solutions and improvements implemented.
What technologies feature in smart cities?
It may come as no surprise that the most important aspect of smart city technology is the Internet of Things (IoT).
This network of connected devices means that data can be communicated and exchanged between a variety of different sources, with this data then stored on servers or in the cloud to deliver efficiency gains and economic benefits and improve resident quality of life.
But, of course, a range of different interfaces, software and networks are used in smart cities to deliver these solutions in a significant and meaningful way. Edge computing, for example, is a common feature in smart cities, as are application programming interfaces, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, mesh networks and so on.
Once these systems are in place, real-time data can be collected via smart sensors, which can then be analysed to provide insights into city service operations. The results of this are then handed over to those in charge so they can drive through improvements, manage assets more effectively and improve quality of urban life.
Many of the biggest cities in the world are now embracing smart initiatives, such as Singapore. This is the second most densely populated city in the world and it recently implemented its Smart Nation vision, as well as a Virtual Singapore planning model and collaborative data platform.
Smart home technologies for energy and water management are now being tested, as are monitoring systems for older people. This technology can be integrated into domestic properties via a framework that takes into account planning, environment, buildings and living.
How do you build a water-smart city?
Because city populations are expected to increase over the next 30 years or so, it’s becoming increasingly important for them to become more sustainable in their approach to resource management.
Another problem compounding the situation is, of course, climate change, with rising global temperatures leading to increased water shortages and periods of drought. As such, safeguarding precious water resources for future generations is now of paramount importance… so how can technology help with this?
Providing precise and accurate data on city water usage is one way that conservation can be supported, with automated water meter reading (AMR) technology available for both homes and commercial properties.
Measuring how much water is used and where is the first step to take towards improving water management – and this is where AMR really comes into its own.
This allows for continuous monitoring of water usage in any property, a process also known as data logging. It means that issues can be spotted quickly and water-saving solutions adjusted as requirements fluctuate over time.
It works by measuring the water flow at hourly intervals, so that if a sudden spike is seen, an investigation can be quickly carried out to check for problems, such as water leaks.
Given that three billion litres of water a day is lost through leakage in England alone, it seems that prioritising this could make a very significant difference indeed to water consumption in cities… and elsewhere.
It’s also possible to break down water usage by building, department, tenant, equipment or shift so decision-makers can enjoy full transparency and find out who is using resources, what for, where and when.
The IWA Principles for Water-Wise Cities
The International Water Association (IWA) has developed a series of principles to help leaders and decision-makers plan and implement water-wise cities, featuring their vision for sustainable urban water.
The aim is to encourage adoption of a shared vision and collaboration within that so that solutions can be found to manage all waters in a city, underpinned by three main ideas… that resources are limited and we must do more with less, that urbanisation provides an opportunity for economic growth but also a threat to liveability and that city planning faces an uncertain future at the moment.
There are four levels of action for urban areas: Regenerative water services, water sensitive urban design, basin-connected cities and water-wise communities where citizens are empowered and professionals are aware of water co-benefits.
These build on the base principle that every citizen has access to water and sanitation services, which will require planning, monitoring and reporting of these human rights issues.
In all, there are 17 principles that can be adopted to help cities become more water-wise, something that is going to become more and more urgent as time goes on and the impacts of climate change really start to bite.
If you’re similarly inspired by these principles and want to find out how you could become more water efficient as a business, get in touch with the team here at H2o Building Services today to see how we can help.