Energy Queensland’s energy services business Yurika is changing the way utilities, businesses and councils will be able to collect data as well as monitor and manage assets and operations in remote locations.
A trial using environmental sensor equipment that sends data to low-orbit satellites from sections of the network in regional Queensland is already providing outstanding results.
“Yurika placed sensors developed by Townsville-based tech company Lixia, a James Cook University spin-off, on 50 power poles in locations ranging from coastal to farmland, remote and mountainous terrain, and rainforest and wetlands,” executive general manager Carly Irving said.
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“The IoT sensors send secure data including temperature, air pressure, humidity and information about a pole’s tilt and angle, via a LoRa network, to FleetSpace’s low orbit satellites. From here it’s pushed through multiple cloud environments where it’s bounced through to Yurika’s Internet of Things (IoT) platform for analysis.”
“Powered by Tornio, Yurika’s IoT platform allows users to monitor and manage sensor data, which could include asset data. The platform allows users an opportunity to set automated actions and responses which could include integrated scheduling of maintenance or repairs.”
“Basically, this trial demonstrates we can quickly provide information to any users, including asset owners, in remote areas where data connectivity was previously limited or non-existent.”
Yurika general manager digital services Grant Smith said development of other uses for the platform was well underway.
“This trial has demonstrated we can achieve the same results anywhere—location is no longer a limitation for IoT technology deployment,” Smith said.
“We’ve started to deploy a broader range of IoT devices, which will enable us to assess factors such as vegetation on the ground; water levels—even pollution.”
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“This potentially increases the value of assets, as every piece of infrastructure becomes a site where IoT devices can be deployed in the future for a range of customers from utilities to agriculture, local government and health services.”
“Our clients will be able to trigger live responses to data that’s being collected using machine learning to schedule an action, deliver information to their website or even post to social media to get a message out.”
“Proving we’re able to do this is a real game-changer, particularly in parts of our regional and remote communities where there is limited connectivity.”
