Page 44 - 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

between traffic and water contamination can be a way where informed decisions are taken
detected. In the long run, where large amounts of continuously based on the data. Different
data are available for forecasting, such solutions departments within the public organization need to
and systems could then be used as large-scale streamline their processes to be able to take
planning tools for urban development. advantage of the data received in real time.
Additionally, data and IoT platforms need to be
4.1.2 Challenges and needs for digital monito- cross-functional, for the organization to be able to
ring and resilience solutions integrate data from multiple sources.

Previously, in sections 2 and 3, two projects were 5. CONCLUSIONS
shown where Ericsson is participating in the
development of real-time environmental The technical development of environmental
monitoring solutions. These projects provided monitoring and smart city solutions is only one of
insights on the potential benefits of using digitalized the aspects to consider when talking about the
and sensor-based environmental data, where better smart sustainable cities of the future. Equally
spatial and temporal resolution in measuring important is the ability to integrate these solutions
rainfall through microwave links were obtained. and the data generated, as well as developing
Additionally, the different connected urban water cross-functional processes for information flow
projects have taught us valuable insights in city within the cities to be able to make any sensible use
priorities and needs, where pollution detection and of this information.
tracking as well as a need for increased spatial
coverage are high on their wish lists. Solutions for digital environmental monitoring can
provide data and information for environmental
For future research and development, there are mitigation and climate resilience, but also be used
some challenges that need to be addressed, of both for other use cases as shown in this paper. We have
technical and organizational nature. The first described two projects where Ericsson is involved,
challenge is related to the sensor market for water utilizing ICT and sensor technologies to develop
quality monitoring. Our experience, based on the such smart city solutions, where the technical
projects we are involved in, shows that there are aspects of the development are of importance.
very few manufacturers offering sensors that are However, equally important is the actual
suitable for massive IoT deployments. Either the integration and deployment of such solutions in
price is too high, resulting in a non-realistic cities, where the data needs to be utilized in an
financial scenario to cover an entire city, or the efficient way to fully achieve their potential. This
quality is inferior, resulting in high service and includes the development of processes and
maintenance costs. However, indications show that investment in cross-functional data and IoT
many sensor manufacturers are investing in the platforms. However, as shown with the examples in
future of IoT, to be able to deliver low cost, highly previous sections, digital real-time data provides an
reliable sensors. This is, however, a couple of years interesting opportunity for the smart sustainable
ahead in the future. Additionally, to be able to rely city, as well as for the monitoring and achievement
on the sensor data, and utilize it as a part of the of the Sustainable Development Goals.
monitoring processes of a city, sensors need to be
accredited in order to report digital data to national REFERENCES
and federal authorities. Furthermore, the sensor
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of AI systems can be a major contributor, as
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process-related limitations in public organizations.
Many of these digital data solutions can only achieve [3] IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013: The
their full potential if proper processes to be able to physical science basis. Contribution of
utilize the data and the insights are implemented in working group I to the fifth assessment report
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