Edinburgh Council to Incorporate Internet of Things

Edinburgh Council to deploy IoT technology using Precisely's Confirm asset management system.

10:38 19 November 2020

Edinburgh council has confirmed plans to increase its use of internet of things technology to connect smart infrastructure, including air quality sensors, smart waste litter bins and gully sensors. 

 

The council is using Precisely's Confirm asset management system that consolidates data on different asset types in one location. This allows the council to have a unique understanding of their assets and predict future defects before they cause any serious issues. 

 

Gareth Barwell, head of place management at The City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Traditionally, we chose best-of-breed individual systems to support many of the individual services we were providing. Like many councils, we invested in a road system, a tree system, etc. We did not have a single view of our overall infrastructure.”

 

Sean Gilchrist, transport manager – asset and performance at The City of Edinburgh Council, added: “Because we are shifting towards place making, spaces for people has come to the top of the agenda,” he says.

 

“When we do any sort of maintenance we will have to start thinking more and more about the movement of people. Things like cycling and walking will be top priority and we need to build investment strategies around that.

 

“We need to take a wider look at our network. It’s expensive to do this, so you have to be smart about it, planning much further in advance, and that opens up opportunities to use your internal funding better as well as getting external funding.

 

“Groups like Sustrans are very keen to invest with local authorities to build environments that encourage cycling and walking. To have all that in the one place will make life so much easier for us.”