IoT Solutions Offered to Scotland Councils

Scottish councils to be awarded with funding that they can use to investigate and evaluate the power of IoT and smart solutions.

10:24 06 April 2021

Councils across Scotland are set to receive funding that they can use to explore how Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to reduce their carbon footprint. Under the scheme, Scottish councils will receive a free 12-month trial of waste management, intelligent lighting, air quality and social housing solutions so they can find ways to transform ways in which local communities live and work through access to real-time data.

Scottish Government connectivity minister, Paul Wheelhouse MSP, said: “In enabling Scotland’s 32 councils to have free access to this [IoT Scotland] digital sensor network, this unique proposition encourages early adoption, fosters better collaboration between local government and transforms how we use digital technology and data for the benefit of our communities,” 

“This is a great opportunity for Scottish councils to fully embrace future-proofed Internet of Things (IoT) and data-driven technologies and use the technology to innovate in service delivery and I fully support this initiative.”

Highland Council is among the first to adopt the IoT technology through the IoT Scotland network. Its schools, care homes, leisure centres and council offices have already been transformed into smart buildings.

Alasdair Rettie, group technical director at North, said: “Scotland is leading the way in the use of IoT and as we look to the future, the adoption of smart solutions, from our largest cities to our most remote villages, will connect communities across the country to enhance operations and existing systems,”