Page 39 - ITU Journal - ICT Discoveries - Volume 1, No. 2, December 2018 - Second special issue on Data for Good

ITU JOURNAL: ICT Discoveries, Vol. 1(2), December 2018

DIGITALIZED WATER AND SMART CITIES – HOW CAN TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS BE
USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE?

Daniel Paska
Ericsson AB, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract – Water is a prerequisite for life. Water can also be a problem through heavy rain causing floods
and destruction. In this paper we will describe two ongoing projects where Ericsson is participating to
develop digitalized water-related monitoring solutions. One project relates to real-time rain detection
through telecommunication microwave networks and the second project is the development of an IoT-based
real-time water quality monitoring solution for smart cities. We will also elaborate on the opportunities and
positive impact, as well as challenges and needs for the full integration of such solutions in cities.

Keywords – Internet of things, microwave, rainfall monitoring, smart cities, telecommunications, water
quality monitoring

1. INTRODUCTION Water is a prerequisite for life, but it can also pose a
risk to societies and the environment. It is expected
The upcoming decade will most probably be a game that rainfall will increase in intensity in many parts
changer in how digital data is utilized in the world. of the world due to climate change [3][4],
The first commercial 5G networks will be launched potentially resulting in floods and landslides
during 2018 resulting in a drastic change in how resulting in societal costs and potential risk to lives.
data can be transported between machines and Several cases of severe flooding have occurred in
between users. The introduction of 5G and low Sweden over the last 5-10 years, and a major
power networks will increase the number of flooding disaster took place in Copenhagen,
devices connected to the Internet, where it is Denmark in July 2011 when 120 mm of rain fell in
estimated that the number of cellular Internet of 2 hours and led to damages associated with
things (IoT) connections will reach 3.5 billion in estimated costs of up to 1 billion EUR [5].
2023. Monthly data usage is expected to reach
107 exabytes by the end of 2023 [1]. On the other hand, access to clean and safe drinking
water is a necessity for societies, where only
The future for connected devices and their 2.5 percent of all water on earth is fresh water. Out
applications looks bright. Higher speeds and lower of these 2.5 percent, approximately 0.4 percent can
latencies through 5G networks will, for example, be used for consumption [6]. Hence, water for
enable the use of autonomous vehicles and remote citizens’ consumption is an emerging issue in many
control of machines [2]. Smaller and simpler cities around the globe where knowledge of the
devices connected to the Internet will increase in ecological and chemical status of rivers and lakes is
numbers and the data generated will be used for an important tool to be able to secure safe water for
decision making, whether it is to increase the citizens. In the EU, water quality in lakes and rivers
temperature in your home remotely or the is regulated through the Water Framework
management of an entire network of a mass transit Directive [7] and the WHO has determined water
communication system. Utilizing IoT and digital quality targets and thresholds for safe consumption
data to monitor the environment and predict [8]. However, recent studies have shown that many
potential upcoming concerns, such as pollution water areas in, for example, Sweden do not live up
flows and climate-related disasters, can increase to the requirements in the directive and some have
the efficiency for mitigation actions. Through the even deteriorated [9].
availability of real-time data, awareness can be
raised in businesses and society.

© International Telecommunication Union, 2018 17