what is Internet of Things and how it can foster sustainable development?
With the rapid growth and technological advancements, the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are becoming more and more popular among country leaders and private businesses. But how deploying IoT-led solutions can foster sustainable development?
What is IoT?
Before discussing how IoT can empower sustainable development, first, let’s define what is IoT (Internet of Things) itself.
The Internet of Things makes it possible to connect many different machines that collect data in real-time and respond to specific problems. In other words, IoT is about measuring and remotely controlling previously unconnected “things”. According to McKinsey, It is one of the three most impactful technological advancements we will see before 2030. The following video explains the details of IoT devices.
Furthermore, due to its benefits in different industries, more and more city governments choose to implement IoT projects and more and more businesses see the opportunities that come with using Internet of Things- driven solutions in their companies. In short, the IoT industry is rapidly growing and according to Business Insider, the IoT market is on pace to grow to over $2.4 trillion annually by 2027.
At the same time, IoT technology has the potential to help achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the grand scheme, the concept of sustainable development is extremely important and every tool that has an ability to contribute to it should be used.
“The Internet of Things could be a game-changer for sustainability” — World Economic Forum
But you might be wondering exactly how IoT solutions might work in favor of sustainable development? There are several different applications that might bring such kind of benefits.
How IoT can foster sustainable development?
- Smart Street Lights
In most cities, the street lamps are turned on even if there is no one in the area and thus the electricity is wasted. Smart lamps can automatically detect movement in the streets and adjust brightness accordingly. If there’s no movement in the area, it can be dimmed to the pre-selected level of brightness, for example, 50 percent. That helps to ensure security while reducing extra costs and saving energy.
According to the World Bank, street lighting energy consumption is an increasingly significant part of cities’ energy use.
Smart lighting projects have the potential to be highly successful, for example, the “Milan LED” project has reduced energy costs by 51.8 percent and overheads by 31 percent. This resulted in a cost savings of 10 million euros in 2015.
2. Air Pollution
Current data show that air pollution is a serious problem and without tackling it, the situation will only get worse. IoT technologies and devices provide a way to monitor air quality and take action accordingly. Visit the link to learn in detail how the Internet of Things driven technology might be a solution to improve air quality especially in urban areas.
These are some of the ideas and ways how leveraging Internet of Things could impact the sustainability of the planet.
In addition, World Economic Forum has even published Internet of Things: guidelines for sustainability with the aim to encourage the prioritization of sustainability goals as part of the design of commercial projects to maximize social impact while still delivering, and potentially also increasing commercial value.
