Smart City and Utility Industry News Roundup
April 24, 2024

The Saumur Val de Loire region in France has introduced a new real-time pollen detection system, utilizing three high-tech sensors developed by Lify Air. These sensors, soon to be installed in three strategic locations, draw in air and use laser technology to analyze and differentiate pollen types. The data collected is accessible via the Live Pollen app, which provides updates on pollen levels and allows users to receive alerts based on their specific allergies. The initiative, costing €21,600 for installation and deployment, reflects a growing trend in environmental monitoring following the widespread adoption of air quality sensors. This new focus on pollen sensors aims to enhance public health through better allergy management and improved air quality awareness.

Acinque Tecnologie will modernize the public lighting in eleven municipalities around Merate, Italy, by replacing 8,000 light points with LED systems at a cost of €4 million. Starting next summer, the project will add over 60 kilometers of new cables, 300 remote-controlled electrical panels, and replace 350 old poles. The upgrades will include smart city technologies such as remote-controlled streetlights, electric car charging stations, and sensors for monitoring environmental conditions. This initiative is expected to reduce energy consumption by 75% and cut CO2 emissions by 700 tonnes annually.

In the Netherlands, increasing numbers of traffic lights are capable of connecting to the mobile phones of road users to collect personal data. The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP) has expressed serious concerns about these surveillance capabilities and is urging the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to take immediate action. Unlike traditional detection loops that track traffic flow without collecting personal data, these “tracking traffic lights” can gather extensive details about individuals’ movements, including their complete travel routes, times, and speeds. The AP criticizes road managers for not thoroughly considering the privacy risks and for the lack of clarity about who shares and manages this data. The AP had already warned the ministry in 2021, and has reiterated its call for a thorough review to ensure that the use and design of these traffic lights comply with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) standards.

The city of Mesa, Arizona, is set to enhance its water management system with a $1.7 million federal grant earmarked for its comprehensive Smart Meter Upgrade project. Part of an $82 million initiative, this project aims to replace over 200,000 outdated water, electric, and gas meters with advanced smart meters capable of real-time, remote data collection. This upgrade is a key part of Mesa’s strategy to future-proof its utility services against the challenges of aging infrastructure and increasing water scarcity.

Australia’s AquaWatch initiative, originally developed to act like a weather service for monitoring water quality including early warning forecasts, will be set up in the UK. This marks the first international expansion of the system, supported by the space agencies of both countries under the UK-Australia Space Bridge initiative. The system integrates satellite and sensor data to provide near-real-time water quality updates and forecasts. Co-funded by both nations, AquaWatch aims to enhance global water monitoring capabilities, starting with an existing test site at Plymouth Sound in the UK.

This summer, a team of community scientists will employ advanced sensors to map urban heat islands in 14 U.S. cities, as part of a NOAA led federal initiative to address heat inequities. These sensors, mounted on volunteers’ cars, record temperature, humidity, time, and location every second as they drive through neighborhoods during one of the hottest days of the year. This detailed data collection enables the creation of precise maps showcasing the hottest parts of the community. Understanding these urban heat islands helps in strategizing effective cooling solutions, such as the placement of trees and shade structures, to mitigate the health impacts of extreme heat and improve urban resilience.

E.ON Hungária Group has launched a significant expansion of its smart meter infrastructure in Hungary, installing over 165,000 new devices in Transdanubia and Pest County, including Budapest. This effort is part of a larger initiative that has already seen 650,000 smart meters installed, with E.ON managing two-thirds of these installations. Funded by the Hungarian government through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) with an investment of approximately US$27 million, the project aligns with the country’s REPowerEU commitment. The government plans to support the installation of around 525,000 smart meters funded by the RRF, aiming for a total of about 800,000 units in collaboration with other companies.

Three Ohio utilities will expand their smart meter installations by an additional 1.4 million units as part of FirstEnergy’s $421 million grid modernization plan. This second phase follows the first one from 2019, where about 706,000 smart meters were installed. It aims to finish smart meter setups for all customers of Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, and Toledo Edison. The project includes updating communications infrastructure and data management systems to improve energy usage insights and costs for consumers.