Scotland’s centre for internet of things (IoT) technologies has produced a series of blueprints for local authorities to realise their potential.
CENSIS, working with the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, is making five blueprints available to highlight opportunities and challenges in the deployment of IoT.
The initiative is part of an ongoing collaboration between the two organisations to help local authorities use the technology to manage and optimise their services and infrastructure.
The blueprints cover: sensing for social housing, helping to monitor concerns such as damp and energy usage; smart waste management; air quality in schools; water monitoring for bacteria such as legionella; and winter weather proofing, which includes services such as road and pavement gritting.
CENSIS said the guides have been informed by projects involving East Renfrewshire Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Perth and Kinross Council and The Highland Council.
Roll out at scale
Stephen Milne, director of strategic projects at CENSIS, said: “There is already a general awareness of IoT, but we now need to work together to take ideas one step further – beyond pilot schemes – and roll them out at scale.
“While we’re aiming to illustrate the benefits and business case for using IoT across the public sector, wider adoption may also unlock new markets for some of the high growth tech companies we work with. These businesses can provide the technology councils will need to make plans a reality, using networks and equipment developed and made in Scotland.”
Colin Birchenall, chief technology officer at the Digital Office, said: “We want to encourage councils which are already using this kind of technology to share their experiences and help others do the same.
“This is the start of a library of blueprints that provide practical advice to help councils to accelerate and scale up IoT technologies to improve outcomes and deliver efficiencies across the sector.”
