HIDCO to install IoT device to cut down on power consumption

Kolkata: Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) will install an IoT (Internet of Things) device to conserve power as a part of the 'Green City Clean City' project in New Town. The device will be installed in 100 lampposts to begin with.

The objective is to optimise consumption of energy (each street light consumes 180 W) based on external conditions like less traffic or daylight. Installation on a 1 km stretch will be completed in a week's time.

Whenever available light is less, the device will switch on the street lights automatically. By means of various signals transmitted to the cloud, things like the intensity of light can be remote controlled through an app for each street light from a central control room. The system enables ON, OFF, DIM and SCHEDULE functionalities for the street lights via LoRA network and a software application.

LoRA is a wonderful new low-power, wide-area network for efficient M2M (machine to machine) communication required for IoT. Expensive SIM cards and data network are not required as LoRA works with very small data packets, enough to send out and communicate commands such as meter reading, on/off command or illumination level.

It may be mentioned that various steps have already been taken in New Town to conserve power. LED lights have been installed. Under the new system, the intensity of the lights can be brought down late in the night when the traffic flow becomes less. This also helps to reduce the electricity bill of New Town residents.