How a Low Powered Wider Area Network is enabling IoT to happen in Portsmouth.
Our IoT devices are capable of communicating on several LPWAN Networks. This success story showcases how our IoT devices were deployed and connected to the Private LPWAN Sigfox network covering the city.
Sigfox is an inexpensive, reliable, low-power solution to connect sensors and devices. With the dedicated radio-based network established we were able to connect IoT devices to help the council, utility providers and local businesses monitor their buildings and utilities across the city.
What is Sigfox?
How deploying our IoT devices to Portsmouth Water meters and assets, providing customers with live consumption data and helped tackle leakage.
Portsmouth Water has been supplying water to Portsmouth and the surrounding area since 1857.
The Company’s strategy for 2020-25 is to implement new technology in the form of IoT including:
- Automatic Meter Reading Devices (AMR)
- Fixed Noise Logging
- Intensive pressure logging
- Artificial intelligence technologies such as smart water software to provide real time monitoring to maximise logging effectiveness.
Our support enabled Portsmouth to be the first UK water company to use ‘internet of things’ (IoT) technology to detect network leaks and smart metering.
OurAMR devices were installed on sites across Portsmouth and collect data at 60 minute intervals.
This enabled Portsmouth Water to access accurate consumption data for:
- Accurate billing
- Identification high or low consumption patterns
- Identify meter right sizing
- Identify leakage and wastage issue
No other systems help our customers manage their own water in the way that the Fusion Portal does. It enables customers to take responsibility for the use of their own water.
If a problem occurs, we can look at the live data, alerts and action clear next steps. The benefits of continued monitoring and reading are not to be underestimated, it has had and continued to have significant value to the business.
Mick White, Portsmouth Water Commercial Manager
It is expected that through these innovations, Portsmouth Water will be able to match the estimated leakage reduction of almost 5 Ml/d (15%) that the introduction of District Metered Areas would bring, at a lower cost to customers.