lorawan
What is LoRaWAN?
LoRaWAN®, also known as Long Range Wide Area Network, is a Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) networking protocol designed for wireless connection of battery operated ‘things’ (or IoT devices) to the internet in regional, national or global networks.
How is LoRaWAN different to Wifi and 4G?
Although LoRaWAN is a wireless network like WiFi or 4G, there are some important differences:
LoRaWAN uses very little power, so battery powered LoRaWAN devices can last years on the same battery. For example we can embed a LoRaWAN parking sensor in the surface of the road because it will last for 5-10 years before the battery needs changing. Imagine how often you'd have to dig up the road if you used 4G!
Wifi has limited range - a wifi base station may just about cover your home, but you would be out of range just a few metres down the road. LoRaWAN base stations (or gateways) can provide coverage for several kilometres - so you don't need too many to cover an entire town.
There is a trade-off of course: whereas with Wifi or 4G you can stream Netflix and upload photos to Instagram, by comparison LoRaWAN only allows *tiny* amounts of data, but from thousands of devices. This is perfect for many sensors and actuators that just need to report a temperature, or count people, or turn on an irrigation system.
The other big difference with this particular LoRaWAN network is cost. There is no contract or pay as you go - it is completely free for you to use!
“LoRa is an up and coming technology that will be a great addition for many applications. It’s gaining more and more traction and lowering the entry barrier. Enabling low power long range communications with no extra monthly fee enables the usage in so many more operations, such as battery powered long range communications, which would have been otherwise impossible. Not to mention, with more community support and more gateways being put up around the region and the country, coverage will continue to improve with time.””
220 gateways across east anglia
The LoRaWAN infrastructure provides the foundation for a whole ecosystem that could transform our economy.
Teaching school children and students about the technology, increasing interest in coding careers
New entrepreneurs able to try out and demonstrate their ideas
Creation of new businesses in Norfolk and Suffolk based on innovation, data and new ideas
Enabling remote rural solutions where mobile phone networks are inadequate
LoRaWAN Sensors
The IoT/LoRaWAN sensors provide the ability to increase in the spatial and human awareness across the counties by connecting sensors, gathering data and making new insightful and informed decision based on the information.
These are aligned to wider digital connectivity strategies of supporting more people across the rural county; combined with the full fibre, public wi-fi, 5G and better broadband for Norfolk and Suffolk to give people access to critical services and opportunities.
Where to buy sensors?
AllIoT - https://www.alliot.co.uk/
Concept 13 - https://www.concept13.co.uk/shop/
Connected Things - https://connectedthings.store/gb/
LoRaWAN Infrastructure
The LoRaWAN infrastructure is aligned to wider digital connectivity strategies of connecting and supporting more people across the rural landscape of the counties.
By enabling the use of smart applications not only for the support, assistance of building better communities but also to monitoring and informing decisions on local environment conditions could enable better management and early prevention of issues.
Where to get started?
Previously, Norfolk County Council have held several promotional events and have ran a more detailed session looking at the LoRaWAN technology and where to get started which you can watch back here.
To get started, click the button below to register with ‘The Things Network’.
Q & A with Ver Facil
What were you doing before LoRaWAN?
Before LoRaWAN I had designed, manufactured and installed HVAC automation control panels. HVAC is Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems. These projects require the physical installation of many cables point to point. After years of issues with incorrect cabling I was looking for a wireless solution and found LoRaWAN
What was the initial opportunity you saw for LoRaWAN for your business?
The reduced need for point to point cabling. Once I saw the wireless distances achievable with LoRaWAN and the super low power battery consumption I was hooked on this technology.
What changes have you made to your products and services?
We offer the "coal face" installation of LoRaWAN. We design the network, supply and install the network hardware then select and test hardware sensors to best suit our client's applications. We look to work with large enterprises, councils, farmers and building owners.
What is LoRaWAN being used for?
The Network is already being used for such things as Crop Management at Ben Burgess monitoring crop growth, water precipitation, soil dynamics; If your school has an allotment/gardening project maybe we can help install similar sensors to the ones being utilised by Ben Burgess. School children of all ages have been using IoT to create projects; NCC and ICT Solutions will be working in collaboration to encourage the usage of IoT throughout schools in Norfolk. Using Arduino boards, it's possible for children to create sensors for a multitude of things i.e air quality sensors, rainfall sensors.
Other uses across the county include water level monitoring on the Norfolk Broads, desk occupancy and road temperature sensors to support the winter gritting program but has unlimited applications. We are also looking to support vulnerable people stay in their homes longer, air quality management, farm protection, flood awareness and many other use cases to support the county.
Health and Safety
Please note that the frequency of this equipment will not interfere with CCTV or any other wireless equipment. All of the installs are carried out with completed Risk Assessment and Method Statements plus the Council Legal Department has drawn up a letter explaining that the council must cover all costs for the install and continued maintenance of these devices and that we'd be liable in the event of any damage as a result of these installs. There is no downtime of network or your buildings services during the installs.
Contact Us
We are looking for locations to install the (LoRaWAN gateway devices on buildings around both the counties which will deliver ubiquitous county wide connectivity to support large amounts of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.
Internet of Things (IoT)
You may have heard of the Internet of Things and Smart Cities – but what are they, and why should you be interested in them?
Case Studies
Discover how local businesses are utilising LoRaWAN to solve their challenges or improve their operation.