Research into How People use IoT in Public Areas

Researchers to utilise IoT to gather data on how open public spaces are used.

12:56 18 April 2018

As urban communities densify and flat living becomes the norm, open outside spaces have become the places for people to socialise. They have also become the best venues for get-together and festivities.

 

Organisers and urban originators must understand how these open spaces are used by visitors to figure out how they can boost their social and useful pleasantry.

 

UNSW scientists, Street Furniture Australia and Georges River Council in New South Wales, with funding from the Commonwealth Smart Cities and Suburbs program, are set to conduct a research to gather information as to how why and how public places are being used.

 

They will install smart sensors on outdoor tables, refuse containers, grills, seats, cigarette cinder repositories, control focuses, bubblers and lights. These smart sensors can provide useful information, such as the number of people using the public space during specific day and time and the length of stay, among others.

 

Data gathered will empower the team to make necessary adjustments in order to realise specific goals. For instance, efforts to attract more people can help help commercial establishments within and around the area to boost their sales and revenue.