Sensors for a Smart City

A cornerstone for the people in Lübeck is the LoRaWan radio network (long range wide area network) that has been set up by the Stadtwerke Lübeck in cooperation with the CoSA center of excellence at TH Lübeck. TH Lübeck is an absolute leader in sensor technology, and working with them is a great pleasure, says Meier. LoRaWAN is a license-free radio standard. The installed antennas (gateways) create a cost-effective basis for numerous intelligent applications. The technology enables a wide range of applications:

Trash cans can alert you when they need to be emptied. Smart traffic regulates itself: When traffic in one direction is particularly heavy, traffic lights can extend green phases, and streetlights can adjust their light intensity based on the presence of cars or pedestrians. The batteries in those devices have such a low consumption that they only need replacement after several years.

These are only two applications for sensor technology in smart cities. Here, Horst Hellbrück, the head of CoSA center of excellence, outlines several other fields and possibilities.