A breath of fresh air?

In-person teaching is being reintroduced in the UK this month. We’re looking at ways to monitor and improve air quality in schools (and other workplaces) in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

monitor indoor air quality in schools

COVID-safe schools

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve been told that meeting outdoors is far safer than being inside. We’re looking at ways to bring people back inside, while minimising the risk of contracting or spreading the virus.

Monitoring CO2 levels can give a good indication of ventilation in an indoor space. There is increasing evidence to suggest that CO2 levels correlate with the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The majority of carbon dioxide in an indoor environment comes from breathing. This is particularly true in a classroom situation; with little computer equipment and a large group of students.

Improving indoor air quality in schools can be as simple as creating an alert when CO2 levels rise above a critical amount (e.g. 1000 ppm). When an alert is triggered, the teacher can open a window or door, and allow fresh air to circulate.

We stock a range of LoRaWAN sensors that measure CO2, temperature and humidity. This can be a great place to start for monitoring indoor air quality in schools.

Further health benefits

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers had started to investigate the effects of indoor air quality on health. This is particularly important in schools, as children can develop conditions such as asthma through poor air quality.

To dive a bit deeper into factors affecting indoor air quality; we need to look a bit further than carbon dioxide. We can also look at VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and particulate matter (PM).

In a school environment, you’d expect to find VOCs in things like art and craft supplies, cleaning products and new carpets/vinyl flooring. Particulate matter is mostly from dust and smoke (including car exhaust fumes and cooking smoke). Ensuring adequate ventilation when children are exposed to VOCs or particulate matter is key to their long-term health.

Our indoor air quality sensors allow you to measure a wide range of different parameters. You can get a complete understanding of the air quality levels in your school or educational setting.

We also supply outdoor air quality sensors. These can give you an idea of other environmental pollutants such as ozone or NOx. These generally come from traffic or industrial sources, so would be more relevant to schools in urban areas.

A learning opportunity

Improved indoor air quality in schools is known to have positive health benefits for children. But why not build on your project by getting your students involved?

Our LoRaWAN sensors communicate with a centralised gateway. The information is then sent to an easy-to-use dashboard where you can access the data. Create a science project to monitor air quality in your classroom using real statistics. Invite them to make suggestions on how air quality could be improved.

We also offer proof of concept kits so you can quickly and easily get your project up and running. Create a custom proof of concept kit to include air quality sensors and get to grips with the technology on a small scale.

COVID-19 IoT Solutions
Find out more

To find out more about how you could use technology to make your workplace safer, visit our COVID-19 solutions page. Alternatively, contact a member of our team for help and advice on your IoT project.

Three ways to kickstart your “new normal” using IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is at the forefront of our fight against Covid-19. Connected devices can help us to minimise contact points and reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus. Find out which IoT sensors could help your business return to a new normal.

Over the last few weeks, businesses have started to reopen with social distancing in place. Additional risk assessments have been carried out and steps have been taken to ensure that employees and visitors stay safe and well.

Many of these safety measures mean that extra staff members are on hand to monitor capacity, keep things clean and ensure that everybody is following the government guidelines. Having more employees working, and fewer customers allowed into venues at any one time, could be a problem for smaller businesses.

We’re taking a look at some of the ways that IoT can help your business adapt to the new normal:

1. Capacity Monitoring

Many indoor businesses, such as shops, bars/restaurants and gyms now have limited capacity based on social distancing rules. For larger companies such as supermarkets, having a person standing at the entrance to manage the queue isn’t such a big deal. Yet Aldi have already rolled out a traffic light systems across all of their stores.

aldi capacity monitoring

But what about the corner shop? What about the independent boutique clothes store? What about the local chemist? And our cozy pubs and bistro restaurants?

You might not be able to monitor every single person going into and out of your premises at any one time. And you probably can’t afford to pay somebody to stand at the door.

new normal iot parametric people counter

We stock the Parametric People Counter, complete with colour-coded light pole. Place it inside the entrance. The light will show green when you can enter and red when there’s already too many people inside.

At only £960 +VAT, this could be a cost-effective solution to ensuring social distancing. It could also be used at the entrance to certain areas, such as toilet facilities or different floors of your building.

2. Occupancy sensors

One of the key risk areas identified for leisure facilities and the hospitality industry is public bathrooms and toilets. Where possible, the advice is to adopt a 1-in-1-out policy. But it’s often hard to know if the bathroom is occupied without trying the door, or going in! Depending on the layout of your building, customers and visitors might not be able to see whether the toilets are occupied or not.

Introducing the Netvox R718PQA – a toilet occupancy sensor that works using LoRaWAN technology. A combination of door open/close sensors and PIR means that the toilet sensor is completely private – no cameras!

This small device can be attached to the toilet door and connects wirelessly to a centralised system.

You can then add in a traffic light system that will alert customers or employees to whether or not they can enter the area.

3. Air Quality Sensors

Air quality has a big impact on the spread of coronavirus. This is why we’re encouraged to meet others outside, rather than in close quarters inside. The HSE recommends that good ventilation can reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace. It suggests that preventing pockets of stagnant air collecting is important to keeping your workplace safe.

You can monitor air quality both inside and outside your workplace using our specialist LoRaWAN sensors. The enLink Air range from Synetica allows you to monitor a selection of different air quality parameters; from VOCs and particulate matter, through to temperature and humidity. Syntetica also manufacture the enLink Status-AF; a LoRaWAN device that allows you to measure the flow of air through a given area.

These air quality sensors can be added in to your existing LoRaWAN smart building network. We can also help you to set up and test them as part of a proof of concept kit.

For more information about any of our products, and how IoT can help you to move forward into the “new normal”, get in touch with our team. Our experts are on hand to help you make the most of your LoRaWAN technology.

MultiTech Conduit AP MTCAP-868-001L Connect to Local Network

The gateway needs to be connected to a PC first not to local network, as it’s set to DHCP server by default, web-browse the device using its default address http://192.168.2.1

To enable WAN configurations which will allow remote access to the gateway, we follow below steps:

1-Setup–> Network Interfaces –> click on the pencil to edit etho interface–> Direction –> set to WAN, and then IPv4 settings–> Mode–>set to DHCP client.
2-Firewall–> Input Filter Rules–> Add Rule–> Add two Webaccess, Source: any, Destination: 443 & 80 which are for HTTPs and HTTP.
3-from Administration –> Access Configuration–> tick all HTTP Redirect to HTTPs boxes, and tick the Via WAN box in HTTPs.

4-Save and Restart, and wait till the gateway finishes rebooting.


Returning to the Workplace after COVID-19

We’re ready to see all of our businesses and public spaces reopen after lockdown. But not at the expense of people’s safety. We’re looking at ways to minimise risk when returning to the workplace after COVID-19.

Over the last few months, Coronavirus has wreaked havoc on all of our lives. Across Europe and the world we have seen schools closed, businesses on hold and hospitals overrun. Now things are starting to get back to a “new normal” after lockdown. We wanted to share with you some of the best technology solutions for a safe return to the workplace following the pandemic.

One of the key symptoms of COVID-19 is a fever. Anybody with a body temperature above 37.8 °C is considered to have a fever. Under the current guidelines, if you do have an elevated temperature, you need to self-isolate along with other members of your household.

But how do we enforce this? How do we monitor body temperature in the general population? How can we make sure our friends and family are as safe as possible in the post-lockdown world?

Introducing the Kentix SmartXcan…

This little beauty is the new Kentix SmartXcan Body Temperature Scanner:

body temperature scanner returning to work after covid-19

This tiny piece of tech could help your business re-start in the post-lockdown world. By measuring people’s temperature on the way into your building you can make sure that nobody who has a fever (who otherwise feels well) is allowed in.

Non-contact body temperature scanning

At just 12 cm long, this small device can be installed next to your entrance intercom, your car park barrier or above your hand-wash station. Compared to handheld body temperature scanners, you’re reducing the risk to a single individual.

It’s quick – scanning your body temperature in 0.6 seconds. During testing, the total time for measurement (approach, scan, leave) averaged just 5 seconds. So no hold-ups or queues to enter a building.

You get instant feedback. One set of LED lights turns green when the test is successful. Another set indicates your body temperature range. This easy-to-understand approach will give visitors confidence that they’re healthy and safe to be out and about in public.

You can monitor visitors temperature in real time, and deny entry to anybody who’s body temperature is above 38 °C. The device could be connected to turnstiles or parking barriers to forcibly prevent entry to anybody who’s temperature is elevated.

It’s anonymous. Unlike using thermal cameras, there are no issues surrounding GDPR or recording children. These devices can be used in schools, hospitals or any business setting.

The best bit?

It’s affordable. At just £625.50+VAT, it blows thermal imaging cameras out of the water. Thermal imaging kits to measure fevers on this scale would cost in the region of £5,000. A more basic version would still come in at £2,000.

It’s available. Alliot Technologies are the only UK distributor of this German-manufactured product. The body temperature scanner is available for delivery from mid-June and we can help you to configure your device so that you can simply plug and play.

More information, including technical specification, is available on the Kentix SmartXcan product page. If you have any questions on installation, or whether this body temperature scanner is right for you, get in touch with our technical team.

Can IoT healthcare devices help in a pandemic?

As the NHS battle to save thousands of lives across the country, we’re looking to how technology could help. Could IoT healthcare devices be the future of patient care? This blog post looks at some of the LoRaWAN devices available, and how they could benefit the NHS.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve seen technology take centre stage as we try to continue life as normal. From online PE lessons for kids who aren’t at school, to Zoom conversations with family members; we’re all using the internet more than ever.

LoRaWAN sensors don’t use wifi (so you can save your bandwidth for your video calls and streaming). They use a completely different network. They also use very little data, and very little power. These devices are also relatively affordable.

iot healthcare lorawan medical devices

So how could we use them to develop an IoT healthcare strategy to help the NHS?

1. Emergency buttons for the elderly and vulnerable

COVID-19 has very serious health implications for over 70s and those with existing health conditions. Many of our most vulnerable members of society have been asked to self-isolate for up to 12 weeks.

But how do we check on them? What if they’re unable to get to a phone? Providing those at home with an emergency button that they could push if they needed urgent care could potentially save lives. LoRaWAN technology means that these devices could have a battery life of up to 5 years (based on transmitting data every hour).

2. Asset tracking for medical equipment

One of the biggest issues with the COVID-19 crisis has been lack of ventilators. Manufacturers around the world are scrambling together to produce enough ventilators and respirators to enable our doctors and nurses to care for their patients.

Ventilation equipment is very expensive (£120 per mask and £4,000 per machine, according to 2016 figures from Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). Keeping track of all of these machines using GPS would allow the NHS to find out whether there are unused ventilators available across the country. LoRaWAN asset trackers could also be used to alert staff when a ventilator machine is removed from hospital premises.

3. Parking sensors for ambulance bays

Parking sensors have been developed for smart cities. The sensors detect whether or not a parking space is occupied.

The same technology could be used in an IoT healthcare setting by identifying empty ambulance bays. You could then direct ambulances to the nearest available bay. This could have a huge impact on time-critical emergencies, helping to save lives.

4. Desk sensors adapted for hospital beds

Lack of available beds is an ongoing issue for the NHS. During the COVID-19 pandemic we’ve seen thousands of extra beds provided in emergency hospitals. Having a better picture of where beds are available could help many hospital departments.

Desk sensors have been developed to monitor desk occupancy in a commercial environment. They measure motion, temperature, light and humidity. But they also have a thermopile sensor that can detect body heat. Perfect for patients who aren’t able to move around.

5. Temperature sensors for medical storage

Some medications need to be stored at specific temperatures. Installing temperature sensors in fridges and freezers can alert staff to any changes in temperature. If a fridge door is left open accidentally, an alert will be triggered when the inside of the fridge goes outside the normal temperature range. This could prevent vital supplies from being spoiled, and ensure medication is kept under the right conditions.

There are hundreds of ways that technology can be used for IoT healthcare applications. LoRaWAN technology is so versatile thanks to it’s long battery life, affordability and low data usage. If you’d like more information on how we could help you to develop IoT healthcare solutions, get in touch with our technical team.

Best LoRaWAN Sensors for 2020

After last week’s visit to The Things Conference in Amsterdam, our technical team gave us a little run down of the “ones to watch” for 2020. We talked about the best LoRaWAN sensors on show at the conference, and how they might change our lives in the not-too-distant future!

best lorawan sensors
Our team at The Things Conference

Smart Parking Sensors

The latest addition to the smart city scene is smart parking sensors. We’re currently testing a product made by Bosch. It works using radar and a magnetometer to detect whether or not there’s a car above it. It then reports the parking space status as “available” or “occupied” using LoRaWAN technology. The best bit for car park operators? The battery lasts for up to 5 years, so minimal maintenance!

We envisage the best use of this LoRaWAN sensor will be guided parking systems. We all know how frustrating it is when you’re looking for a space. In busy city centres, you can spend up to 20 minutes searching for a place to park. That’s 20 minutes of clogging up the traffic and the air with your engine running. This sensor could combine with a lighting system to highlight available spaces, or direct you to a multi-storey level where there are spaces. It could also be used to highlight available eCharging stations for electric cars.

People were impressed by the small size and overall design of this product when we displayed it in the flesh in Amsterdam. We have these available now.

Waste Monitoring

We’ve been talking to Tekelek about their waste bin sensor. We think it’s great for a range of applications; from waste management companies to local councils, and even charity collection bins.

The LoRaWAN sensor can be positioned inside the bin and uses ultrasound to measure the level of waste. This allows you to optimise waste collections, adding or removing collections when you need them. This type of LoRaWAN sensor is already being trialled in the Netherlands and promises to cut costs and improve accountability for hazardous waste.

This particular sensor boasts a battery life of up to 14 years, thanks to LoRaWAN technology. It also has a communication range of up to 15km to the nearest gateway. We think this is one of the best LoRaWAN sensors for waste management and recycling.

Air Quality Monitoring

There are a wide range of air quality monitoring sensors on the market. Which is the best LoRaWAN sensor for air quality depends on what you want to measure:

  • CO2. We already offer a carbon dioxide monitor that also measures temperature and humidity. Measuring carbon dioxide can give you an idea of how well your ventilation systems are working. Research suggests that increased CO2 levels in the workplace can decrease productivity!
  • Carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide can be toxic in high concentrations. Many homes and commercial buildings have carbon monoxide monitors surrounding equipment such as boilers or heating equipment. This is a safety precaution, but using LoRaWAN CO sensors can help your systems to alert you more quickly to changes in carbon monoxide levels.
  • VOCs. VOC stands for volatile organic compound. It’s a measure of potentially harmful substances in the air, and a fairly standard method of defining air quality.
  • Particulate matter. This is a useful way of measuring pollution levels in an outdoor environment. Particles from car exhausts, smoke and other sources can reduce the quality of the air we breathe.

At The Things Conference there were a few different manufacturers who supply different air quality monitors. We’re looking to collaborate with some of them over the coming months to supply sensors to our European client base.

We loved the concept of adding air quality sensors to street lighting; another tool for smart cities of the future. They can also be a great method for monitoring and improving air quality in workplaces, hospitals and schools.

LoRaWAN People Counting Sensor

Knowing how many people are visiting your premises or passing by the front can be really helpful. You can actively measure your busiest times and ensure that staffing levels are adapted accordingly. You can measure footfall in specific areas accurately and tailor your marketing strategies. There are all sorts of possibilities for commercial applications.

We liked the idea of being able to measure the number of people without using cameras. And, like all LoRaWAN sensors, we love the long battery life. We liked the look of the PCR2, made by Swiss company Parametric. They have a range of indoor and outdoor sensors that we’re launching now.

Conference Highlights

We had a great time at last week’s conference and we’re really excited about the future of LoRaWAN technology. We particularly enjoyed a presentation by Edge Impulse, which involved Johan Stokking (CTO The Things Industries) dressing up as a sheep:

Not only was it an engaging presentation, the concept of a programmable activity tracker that can “learn” different activities and transmit data via LoRaWAN is pretty amazing! We look forward to seeing it at work in the world of smart agriculture – just hope we don’t catch our sheep drinking beer!

If you met us at The Things Conference 2020, we’d love to hear from you again. Get in touch to find out more about the products we have on offer and our in-house test methods.