In smart cities, IoT-enhanced surveillance
“Smart” video surveillance systems are revolutionizing the security of smart cities. By integrating smart cameras linked to sensors and analysis algorithms, cities can monitor public spaces more easily and effectively. These cameras, equipped with features like facial recognition or suspicious behavior detection, emit a real-time signal whenever an unusual event is detected, alerting law enforcement to enable swift intervention.
To ensure optimal protection of individuals while safeguarding their data, securing communications is crucial and should be integrated from the system design phase. This is achieved through data encryption, the implementation of robust authentication mechanisms, and system segmentation to prevent the spread of attacks in case of intrusion.
Moreover, strict compliance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), implementing clear and transparent privacy policies, and securing collected data are essential conditions to protect citizens’ privacy.
Ensuring urban traffic safety in smart cities
Beyond surveillance, IoT plays a preventive role in our cities by ensuring smoother traffic flow, thereby reducing accident risks and better informing road users. Through sensors installed on roadways and intersections, connected objects can assess and relay vehicle flow in real-time—data that helps adjust traffic lights to ease congestion and minimize accident risks at busy junctions.
Sensors placed in parking spaces also inform users in real-time about available spots and their exact location, helping streamline traffic in parking areas and reducing accident and incivility risks. This application also helps limit violations in blue zones (limited-time parking) or spaces reserved for PRM (persons with reduced mobility) by detecting offenders.
The Internet of Things also strengthens the security of bicycles and electric scooters available for rent in large cities. By showing users available locations to park their vehicle, the technology aids in better distribution of shared two-wheelers. Most importantly, it secures their movement by reducing unnecessary trips to find a spot, while avoiding “wild” vehicle drop-offs on sidewalks, which impede pedestrian movement and pose a safety concern.
When IoT helps detect and manage emergencies in our cities
Using sensors, it is possible to quickly detect a fire, gas leak, or technical issue. Widely used in agriculture and industry, these connected technologies also prove invaluable in smart cities.
In places like shopping centers, train station halls, or parking lots, sensors can detect smoke, gas leaks, or intrusions. They then send an alert to prompt a decision, such as emergency services intervention or public evacuation.
During events that attract large crowds (festivals, demonstrations, etc.), IoT helps analyze crowd flow through sensors placed directly in public spaces. These sensors provide precise analysis of human movement, help prevent crowd surges, and enable quick evacuation in case of an incident.
These applications are supported by wide-coverage networks (LPWAN, LoRaWAN, Wize, etc.) that provide reliable and continuous coverage, even during power outages, ensuring the continuity of emergency services.
Also read: Smart farming: definition and impact of the Internet of Things
IoT and urban security: how does it work?
Securing urban infrastructure requires high synergy between IoT systems. Centralizing collected data through reliable platforms allows for gathering information related to surveillance, human flow, and emergency alerts. The integration of blockchain, a digital technology for storing and transmitting information without a central authority, enhances the security of transmitted data.
LPWAN technologies provide highly secure networks to ensure the safety of connected cities. They cover neighborhoods, districts, or even entire cities with low energy consumption, offering great reliability. Additionally, predictive maintenance anticipates failures or obsolescence of cameras and sensors, ensuring their replacement to minimize or eliminate any interruption in security services.
IoT is likely to play an increasingly important role in urban security management, provided that there is enhanced data security for citizens and assurance of privacy protection.
Objenious supports you in ensuring security within smart cities. Video surveillance, geolocation systems, fire or violation detection: discover all the functionalities of our equipment, tailored to your needs, in compliance with GDPR.