Pollution is one of the greatest climate challenges of our time. Every year, millions of people are affected by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases related to air pollution. To raise awareness of this critical problem, the United Nations General Assembly designated 7 September as International Clean Air Day for a Blue Sky. This day is dedicated to highlighting the urgent need to improve air quality to protect both human health and ecosystems. The figures are alarming: according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds recommended air quality limits, contributing to nearly 6.7 million premature deaths each year.
While technological progress and globalisation have played a major role in increasing air pollution over the past decades, they also hold the key to controlling pollution levels and laying the foundation for cleaner air and bluer skies, especially in cities; that key is called the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT and its contribution to climate health
The IoT, or Internet of Things, connects devices and systems through smart networks, enabling the collection, transmission and analysis of large volumes of data in real time. This technology not only provides us with a more efficient and data-driven world, but also drives climate health through various innovative applications:
- Air quality monitoring. The first and most obvious use case is real-time air quality monitoring. Sensors distributed in different parts of a city can measure pollutants such as tropospheric ozone, nitrogen dioxide or sulphur dioxide. For example, the UK Environment Agency is deploying a solution in thousands of locations across the country to collect atmospheric data and monitor ecosystem health.
- EV Charging (Electric Vehicle Chargers). Electric infrastructure can not only encourage the use of personal electric vehicles, but also enable the electrification of public transport. With the help of the IoT, electric vehicle (EV) charging points can be managed more efficiently, optimising energy distribution according to demand and the availability of renewable sources. In addition, the IoT facilitates route planning for electric vehicles, ensuring that there is always a charging station nearby.
- Telemetry of photovoltaic and wind power installations. The development of green energy is essential to combat air pollution, and the IoT plays a crucial role in its optimisation. Through connected sensors, photovoltaic and wind power plants can be monitored in real time to detect faults, optimise power generation and reduce downtime. This not only increases the efficiency of these installations, but also minimises dependence on polluting energy sources.
- Energy efficiency monitoring. IoT-based energy management systems, such as OTEA by EcoMT can monitor and optimise energy use in real time, identifying areas of waste and opportunities to improve efficiency. Smart sensors installed in lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as industrial equipment, can automatically adjust their operation to minimise energy consumption without compromising productivity.
- Fleet management. Thanks to IoT, companies can optimise fleet routing to eliminate unnecessary kilometres, control driving parameters to encourage more efficient driving, and monitor vehicle condition for predictive maintenance. These advances significantly reduce pollutant emissions. For example, GPS-based fleet management platforms such as Wemob allow courier or transport companies to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions (in addition to financial savings).
Global connectivity to curb a global threat
All these applications have one thing in common: the need for a secure and resilient connectivity layer to ensure their operation in any location and under any circumstances. If we also consider the scope of the climate challenge, we must conclude that air pollution knows no borders. In the face of a global-scale challenge, global connectivity solutions are needed to enable the various applications mentioned above to work with guarantees wherever they are needed; in this regard, we can look to eUICC technology and multi-IMSI and Remote Provisioning (RSP) capabilities that allow devices unprecedented flexibility in connecting to cellular networks. It is only through these innovations, fundamental to the development of IoT, that we can effectively meet this challenge and ensure a healthier future for our planet.
To explore Wireless Logic’s solutions to solve IoT coverage challenges around the world, click here.
