Array of Things in Chicago
Smart city technologies are being developed and deployed across many cities in the US. This time, Chicago seems to be taking the lead. The Array of Things (AoT), a collaborative project led by Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago with the City of Chicago, is aiming at creating urban sensor network around the city to capture a detailed log of urban activity to help Chicagoans and urban data scientists understand and address the most critical urban challenges.
The sensor box device the project team has developed, is designed to contain many sensors to measure multiple parameters of interests. For example, light, air pollution, barometric pressure temperature and movement. It is expected that by 2018, a total of 500 boxes will be installed across Chicago.
There is no doubt that given the scale of the sensor network, AoT has the potential to provide valuable first-hand data sets for the scientific community as well as urban planners. For example, real-time detection of urban flooding can improve city services and infrastructure to prevent property damage and illness. Another real example will be using these sensors to study how air quality and pollution levels affect asthma rates in local communities.
