Data is the most fundamental ingredient of digital transformation.

The technologies predicted to make big waves in the future include IoT, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and edge are all methods of collecting, analyzing, and storing information.

3 Incredible Technologies Saving Lives, Money, and Energy

From “smart paint” to intelligent gunshot detection, learn more about the incredible technologies cities are adapting to improve their infrastructure.

One upgrade is saving Chicago $100 MILLION!

1. Safer Cities with Intelligent Gunshot Detection

The ShotSpotter system is currently used in cities including New York and Washington, DC.

How it Works:

The system employs a network of strategically placed microphones to listen for gunshots.

As soon as the microphones detect a sound that matches the sound of a gunshot, the system pinpoints the location.

The recorded noise and associated data get sent to an operator who then determines whether the sound was a gunshot.

The ShotSpotter’s sensors report the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the shot within 60 seconds of detecting the sounds.

The technology can identify the number of shots as well as the direction and speed of the bullet.

In NYC’s implementation of ShotSpotter, data and insights about confirmed shots fired are merged with the city’s address database.

This includes surveillance videos, shooting histories for the location, and the names and pictures of anyone with open warrants at the address.

Any gun permits issued in the vicinity are also reported.

Its Purpose:

This technology improves safety in an accurate, efficient, and timely manner.

Any police officers responding to calls will be fully prepped with all of this data already loaded on their computers or tablets by the time they arrive on the scene.

2. Detecting Damage in Concrete with Intelligent Paint

“Sensing Skin” technology was developed by a team of researchers at North Carolina State University and the University of Eastern Finland.

How it Works:

This electrically conductive paint is applied over electrodes that are embedded in concrete around the perimeter of structures.

Its Purpose:

The intelligent paint helps ensure the integrity of critical infrastructure including bridges and nuclear waste storage facilities.

Essentially, this innovative “sensing skin” has the ability to monitor defects in concrete structures.

Dr. Mohammad Pour-Ghaz, an assistant professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at NC State and co-author of a paper described the technology as having a wide range of applications for a variety of structure types, “but the impetus for the work was to help ensure the integrity of critical infrastructure such as nuclear waste storage facilities.”

In the future, a smart “sensing skin” for concrete could be implemented and used as an early warning system that would identify deficiencies in vital systems of infrastructure such as nuclear power plants and bridges.

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)

Pour-Ghaz explains that the conductivity distribution of the skin is similar “to x-ray imaging, but instead of x-ray we use a very small electric current, in the order of a few micro to milliamps.

When the cracks happen, the conductivity goes to zero and we can capture them. The method is called electrical impedance tomography (EIT).”

A computer monitors the conductivity of the skin, which senses when small currents pass through pairs of electrodes, cycling through a number of possible electrode combinations. Any decrease in conductivity indicates that the structure has been cracked or damaged.

Researches envision the paint being applied to new or existing structures and incorporating any number of conductive materials.

A set of algorithms have been developed to identify damage and determine where it has occurred.

“The idea is to identify problems quickly so that they can be addressed before they become big problems and–in the case of some critical infrastructure–so that public safety measures can be implemented,” Pour-Ghaz stated.

3. Save Energy with Smart Streetlights

Streetlights are essential in urban zones and smart tech upgrades to this critical area of infrastructure can help make cities safer while also saving money.

How it Works:

Older streetlights are replaced with LED bulbs, wireless connections, and motion sensors that flick the lights on when they are activated by passing pedestrians.

In addition, IoT sensors can alert city officials of when and where bulbs need to be changed.

Its Purpose:

Smart streetlights save cities tons of money by reducing electricity costs as a result of conserving energy when it is not needed.

Smart lights have also proven to make communities safer and more environmentally sustainable.

Chicago will save approximately $100 million over 10 years.

The city of Chicago reported that after only 1 year into its 4-year streetlight modernization program, it had installed more than 76,000 LED streetlights on the south and west sides.

As a result, the city expects to cut electricity costs in half with the replacement of old bulbs with newer more energy-efficient LED ones.

LA has equipped 80% of its streetlights with LEDs and 4G wireless connectivity in past few years.

In the first year of its new lighting program, LA reported that it saw a 63% saving on its energy bill.

In addition, the 4G-wireless-connected poles are being employed to improve resident cell services.

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ABOUT THE WRITER:

Elena Patestas is a journalist and writer for Valuetainment media. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and Adelphi University on Long Island, New York. She was born and raised in Roslyn, New York, and currently lives in Miami, Florida.

Elena is passionate about bringing positive change to our world and believes education is the root to solving many societal problems. After overcoming a chronic health condition, Elena became passionate about health and believes food is the key to preventing dis-ease and achieving optimum health.

Amongst her many goals, she hopes to bring positive, impactful change to our world to create a healthy, financially sound, and unified society.