Advancing smart cities

With the rapid proliferation of connected devices, the concept of smart cities is becoming an ever-closer reality. These technologically advanced urban centers promise to enhance the quality of life for residents and optimize operational efficiency for city administrators through an intricate web of interconnected devices. From smart lighting and electric-vehicle chargers to intelligent meters, these devices hold immense potential to revolutionize urban living.

Individually, these connected devices offer significant advantages to city administrators. They enable better resource allocation, save power, facilitate efficient maintenance scheduling and provide valuable data insights on usage patterns, optimizing city services and infrastructure. For instance, the implementation of smart parking spaces not only aids drivers in finding available spots but also yields broader benefits, such as reducing fuel consumption, noise pollution and the risk of traffic accidents.

High-reliability scalable networks in smart cities

Smart meters, EV chargers and smart lighting are just three of the many innovations appearing in smart cities around the world. Looking at communications technologies, in the big picture, there is a growing trend toward the adoption of cellular LPWA (LTE-M and NB-IoT) connectivity; however, the connectivity technology market is still very fragmented. We also see the adoption of multiple sub-gigahertz standard technologies, including Wi-SUN, wM-Bus, LoRa and other proprietary technologies developed by different companies.

These standalone technologies, like other technologies, might suffer from occasional communication failures or disruptions due to:

• Interference: Other wireless devices or networks operating in the same frequency range may cause inference, which can come from Wi-Fi networks, from Bluetooth devices or even from within the same network using the same bands.
• Distance and signal strength: In outdoor and large-scale environments, communication at the node might fail at greater distances or if the signal strength is not sufficient to overcome obstacles like buildings, trees or natural terrain.
• Obstructions: Physical obstacles like buildings, walls or large metal objects can block or reflect signals, leading to communication failures.
• Network congestion: High network traffic or congestion can lead to delays in data transmission, affecting the connectivity and responsiveness of the network.

To achieve the highest-reliability scalable network, cities should consider deploying devices that support multiple protocol connectivity, such as cellular LPWA alongside any type of sub-gigahertz protocol that can move between networks, as needed. This hybrid deployment approach will streamline smart-city development. These devices offer improved battery life, extended coverage and reduced connectivity costs.

The combination of cellular LPWA and sub-gigahertz approach can also benefit scenarios that include fallback connectivity options (e.g., drive-by fallback option) or where every device operates as a low-cost gateway.

One example is a network area with a number of smart meters. If some of the meters are unable to communicate using the sub-gigahertz protocol due to the reasons described above, the device would be able to automatically switch to cellular LPWA connectivity and seamlessly function as a gateway.

For high-scale, critical and interoperable devices, multi-protocol connectivity can ensure high-reliability networks. (Source: Sony Semiconductor Israel)

Improving interoperability with AI

AI integration holds the key to enhancing interoperability within smart cities, enabling seamless communication among diverse connected devices. By implementing AI-driven data standardization and analysis, cities can achieve efficient data exchange and gain valuable insights for optimized operations.

AI-enabled predictive maintenance ensures proactive device management, reducing disruptions and maintenance costs. Additionally, AI-powered traffic management and adaptive energy distribution streamline transportation and energy systems, promoting sustainability.

The integration of AI with existing IoT infrastructure paves the way for efficient, sustainable and innovative smart cities, benefiting residents and urban landscapes alike.

Unlocking the potential of smart cities

As smart cities continue to evolve, prioritizing interoperability and embracing mesh networks will be pivotal in unlocking the true potential of connected devices. By creating an ecosystem where devices can communicate harmoniously, city administrators can leverage real-time data insights to optimize urban infrastructure, improve resource management and ultimately create smarter as well as more sustainable and livable cities for the benefit of all residents.