Blog Archives - IoT Solaris Singapore

Smart Landscaping & Agriculture-Singapore

Landscaping puts Singapore on the Map

Singapore is renown for its garden city image. The landscaping industry has gone through many changes much of it thanks to the drive & vision of the people at N-parks. We have several iconic gardens , beginning with the Botanic gardens that’s over 100 years old, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the latest being the Jewel at Changi Airport. The most iconic being Gardens by the Bay. These projects stand testament to the talent & creativity of our landscape architects coupled with abilities of our local landscapers has brought international recognition to Singapore and to the industry.

Technology Challenges

As the landscape industry progresses & changes , there is a growing need to incorporate more technology to (a) reduce development & construction time & (b)better manage the plant resources. We are keenly aware that the information available on the plants & trees comes from visual cues & are solely reliant on the expertise of the specialist.

Manpower Challenges

Its a challenge for a handful of trained personnel to monitor that many plants & trees. Furthermore much of the information to keep plants healthy, is only available at the root level & accessing that critical information is a challenge.

Tapping Root Information

IoT Solaris recognized the need for solutions to help landscape architects, consultants, landscapers to better understand & monitor, plants & trees from the roots up. Working with its partners in the United States released its second-generation wireless sensor, the SP-110, enabling a new data driven solutions for smart irrigation in the green industry.

Measure Parameters
1) Moisture
2) Temperature
3) Light(Lux)
4) Salinity

Benefits
1) Easy to Deploy
2) Continuous Monitoring
3) Reduce Physical Checking
4) Multiple Monitoring Locations
5)Accurate Real Time Information
6) Long Term Data Collection

Integrate Smart Data With Smart Irrigation

The IoT -Sp-110 integrates with smart irrigation controllers, allowing for full automation. It comes with the highest possible IP grading (IP69K) , making it very durable, with battery life of several years.

Data Working For You

The data from our IoT -SP 110 wireless sensors will allow commercial landscapers, green designers, horticulturists & agricultural growers to use smart irrigation effectively. It will enable targeted, water usage & focused plant management.

Smart Management

Access to root information & data will now allow us to understand the soil conditions , juxtapose against the plant health. Landscape architects, consultants & landscapers, can easily use the data-driven solutions to implement large scale vertical urban greening & agriculture , for future, sustainable super-cities.

Control & Consistency

The data will accurately predict the growth & yield of the various plants & tress under different soil & moisture conditions , through the power of predictive analytics.

Engines of Growth

Our future iconic gardens & urban farms will now have the added dimensions of befitting from, smart technology. The long term adoption of IoT technology will play a major role in transforming the industry into an engine of growth in the 4th industrial revolution. IoT Solaris is here to help our clients take the small steps into big world of IoT technology.

LEGO – Disruptive Technology In Retail Toy Industry

LEGO -Succeeds where many have Succumbed!

LEGO to Expand Stores

LEGO the privately owned Danish toy manufacturer & retailer has just announced its planning to open 160 stores globally with 140 of them being in China, competing against sophisticated & mature online retail platforms.

LEGO sales are UP

This comes after LEGO declared that sales rose by by 4% to (USD$2.8b). This bucks the trend , major toy retailers have been forced to close down in the recent months due to massive losses.

Mounting Losses in the Retail Toy Industry

Toys “R”Us North America’s largest retailer announced in March 2019 its closing all its stores after losing 2.5 billion since 2012.Disruption from online competition, expectation of millennial parents, children preference for digital toys & online games and less interest physical toys, and mistakes in business strategy finally forced them into bankruptcy.

Brick & Mortar Retailers Challenges

Physical retailers are faced with challenges from online platforms that offer large selections, convenience at very competitive prices. Retailers have to reinvent by going online or changing the customers retail experience going beyond just product & prices.They need information on customer behavior in direct response to their store front.

Packed Shopping Malls With Limited Sales

In Asia & Singapore in particular the malls are always packed but ,retailers & F&B outlets bemoan high rental rates & dropping sales .Much of promotions offered by the malls don’t provide direct leads to stores. They encourage more people into the mall but not necessarily convert them into customers.

Retailers Technology Challenges

Retailers are faced with the daunting task of identify technologies that will work best for them & keep up with changing technologies. They then have to apply the solutions, monitor its relevance and continue with the long term maintenance. There is also the initial investment cost which most retailers cant afford given their size of operations.This is addition to running their daily business operations in a very competitive environment.

IoTSolaris Retail Technology- SolarisRR

Keenly aware of problems faced by malls ,retailers & F&B outlets , IoTSolaris creates holistic solutions to increase in store visits, optimize space , offers unique retail experience that converts to more customers & sales

Our SolarisRR suite ,accurately measures footfalls, effective space utilization, staff & service performance, identify customer behavior, rate advertising value. The solution enables retailers to visualize the interaction between , space , advertising & customer service in real time. Retailers can tweak all factors to optimize customer experience & highest returns. The insight from derived from applying SolarisRR will be a valuable planing & strategic tool to the management. Our IoT consultants provide insights & knowledge to clients on how to maximize returns from 4th generation technology and make it a living part of their business strategy.

Bush Fire Monitoring For Urban & Agricultural Environment – IoT Technology

Forest Fires & Climate Change

Several news articles about the impact of agriculture on the environment were published & highlighted on social media last week . Most notably the ranging fires in the Amazon jungle . The fires are attributed to human activity, like burning of forest & clearing of agricultural lands.Locally bush fires were reported in several parts of Singapore & Malaysia too at Iskandar Puteri in Johor where 16Ha of forest was burned. Rising temperatures & climate change also play a major role in starting these fires. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke at length ,about the impact of climate change, with rising temperature & sea levels, and how Singapore plans to mitigate them at the National Day Rally.

Bush Fires In Singapore

The number of bush fires are on the rise, in 2018 there were almost 600 bush fires as per statistics released by the SCDF ( The Life Saving Force) . Much of this is attributed to warm dry weather we have have been experiencing. The dry weather during the hotter months of the year and reduced rain fall is a catalyst for much of bush fires here.

The SCDF in August 2019 put out fires at Marina East , Tengah Area & Pang Sua Canal all within a few days. The fire at Marina East required 7 water jets, 12 emergency vehicles & 50 fire fighters who fought the blaze for nearly 2hours. Fortunately there were no reported casualties.

The bush fires aren’t detected or reported until they become infernos. SCDF firefighting teams have to scramble to contain them before they create more damage or become a threat to people. These fires aren’t easy to be put out either.

A fire at Lim Chu Kang in March 2019 took nearly 19 hours before being brought under control. The SCDF had to combat multiple sites , slow burning deep seated fires fueled by waste timber & strong winds. They had to manually connect hoses to fire hydrants nearly 2km away & deploy water pumps to maintain water pressure. Thanks to the resourcefulness & dedication of the SCDF Fire Fighting Team, the fire was put out without any property damages or injuries.

The frequency & the impact of the bush fires cannot to understated. Singapore’s large urban population lives in close proximity to outdoor spaces. Though much of it is well manicured & maintained garden spaces. The reports show , bush fires are becoming common. Fighting the fires also consume precious civil resources. Our fire fighters & equipment are deployed several times in the year to deal with the threats. Thankfully they have been successful in containing the fires.

Solaris SP111-F Remote Fire Monitoring System

A easier way to manage these fires would be to deploy ,early warning system that could alert authorities, park rangers, landscapers , farmers to the possibility of fires starting at a location. The Solaris Sp111-F is designed to continuously monitor temperature , moisture & direct light. Applying the data our algorithms can help to predict the possibility of fires starting in any location. Changes to base line environmental conditions will trigger immediate notification.

Continuous Monitoring & Reports

Sp111-F provides 24/7 monitoring , by the hour reports , its easily deployed at remote sites, like secondary forest ,fruit plantations, nurseries & orchards. The information is accessible through our App with customized options.

Integrated Fire Monitoring & Management

The Sp111-F can be integrated with automated fire management systems to provide a total fire management platform for landscaping , park management & agricultural industry. It could potentially save thousands in plants & infrastructure damages, protect the local wildlife & reduce the need for routine deployed of emergency services.Please contact us to know more about our smart fire monitoring solutions.Prevention is the key to better fire management.

Amazon Forest Fires – Devastation- Can Technology Offer Any Assistance

What’s causing the fires?

Environmental organizations and agencies in the country say that majority of fires are the result of human activities. A senior scientist at the INPE told CNN that humans had either purposefully and inadvertently set 99 percent of the fires. Farmers and loggers usually clear the land using fire during Brazil’s dry season, starting from summer, into early fall, for agricultural purposes. Brazilian officials have been claiming that the fires are largely a product of dry seasonal conditions, but experts and environmentalists disagree, based on the scale of the fires.

How much forest is being destroyed?

Over the course of pro business president Bolsonaro’s first term, Brazil has lost 1,330 square miles of forest, a 39 percent increase compared to last year. The INPE reported that the Amazon lost 870 square miles of forest—more than half the size of Rhode Island—in July alone.

What are the long-term consequences—for Brazil and for everywhere else?

The Amazon is critical to managing global climate change. The Amazon itself accounts for consuming a quarter of the 2.4 billion metric tons of carbon that forests around the world remove from the atmosphere every year. A decimated Amazon would make it extremely difficult to meet the goal of keeping worldwide warming below 3.6 degrees, as outlined in the Paris climate accords. The fires further emit greenhouse gases in the air, though it’s too early to predict the quantity and impact. As the world’s largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon is home to 30 percent of the world’s plant and animal species according to some estimates, and fires are a threat to the region’s biodiversity.

What Help Can Technology Offer?

Satellite Monitoring
A fleet of public and private-sector satellites are keeping tabs on deforestation rates in the Amazon and severity of the fires.
Here are some of the satellite views to help drive home the scope . Since Jan. 1, a total of 75,336 wildfires have been detected in Brazil, an 85 percent jump compared to 2018, and an increase of 6,852 fires detected compared to the drought-driven wildfire season in 2016.

Computer Imaging & Analytics In-order to better understand the devastation caused by deforestation & fires over the years and how degraded the Amazon forest has become computer aided imaging is proving to be invaluable. Here is a time-lapse showing deforestation over the span of a few years, through August 2019, northeast of Jip-Paraná, in the state of Rondonia, Brazil.

Air Power- Firefighting Resources The B747-400 SuperTanker is the true “Next Gen” air tanker. It joins the worlds fleet of aerial firefighting tankers not only as the youngest VLAT (VERY LARGE AIR TANKER) but with almost twice the capacity of the next largest aerial tanker. The two separate, but identical constant flow systems are pressurized which allows for either continuous discharge or up to 8 segmented drops. Coverage levels range from CL2 to CL8 and above. The system is approved for retardant, gel, foam and water drops or the combination of any two of these agents and ground servicing for another sortie takes approximately 30-35 minutes.

What more can be done to protect our rainforest?

We can play a big role in helping to reduce this wanton devastation of our rainforest which is happening at an alarming rate. Amazon, Kalimantan, Borneo are all at risk. Awareness is the first step. make a decision to actively support sustainable agriculture, keep the supply chain accountable for how the raw materials are procured. Question beyond the dollar value of your purchase. The environmental & social cost in some cases are so exorbitant that it will be with us for generations.

Can we act today to protect & sustain our rainforest?

Protect an acre of rainforest through the Rainforest Action Network.
Help buy land in the rainforest through the Rainforest Trust.
Support the rainforest’s indigenous populations.
Reduce your paper and wood consumption or buy rainforest safe products through the Rainforest Alliance.
Support arts, science, and other projects that raise awareness about the Amazon through the Amazon Aid Foundation.
Help protect animals living in the jungle with WWF.
If you’re in a position to help protect the rainforest on a Macro-scale, propose & influence , trade, distribution, and financing deals that are dependent on protecting the rainforest and sustainability can be a boon to the planet and to people who depend on the rainforest for their livelihoods.

Prevent Personal Mobility Devices From Fire Hazards-New Technology

Fire Safety In Homes — **Mitigate Electrical Fires-IoT Approach**

PMD -Transport Convenience & Controversial
Personal Mobility Devices( E-Scooters, Segways, Hoverboards, Motorized Wheelchairs) are featuring regularly in the news in Singapore. Often its about pedestrians, and their concerns about sharing the pavement with PMDs’ or souped up speedsters racing with motorist,on our highways. Even when stationary and being recharged they attract news worthy action.

The reality is, as more millennials & elderly come to rely on them, we have to co-exist with them. They offer easy, reliable, cost effective transportation ,a means of income to many and are integral for assisting the elderly & disabled.

The use of E-scooters & Bikes are increasing and will continue to rise in the future. The authorities are doing their best regulate the usage of these PMDs’ regulations do have their limits.

PMD -Catching Fire In Apartments
To make the best case would be the recent spate of fires involving PMDs’. It’s been reported that there were 74 cases with 1 fatality and several injuries. The fire damage goes beyond the devices, it results in personal injury , apartment units destroyed , families & neighbors are put at risk, requires civil resources, SCDF (see statistics) .

PMD -Aftermath Of Fire & Cost
The repair , rehabilitation cost, insurance claims, for HDB flat is estimated to be around S$50000- S$100000 per apartment not including the human cost and tragic outcomes.Hence the failure of the PMDs’ to charge properly is staggering.

PMD – Authorities & Regulations
LTA issued rulings on using UL2272 certified e-scooters & bikes .This should help reduce the recurrence of fires, but requires continuous monitoring & enforcement, otherwise things can & will go wrong.The question to ask, how can owners be made aware of the risk of fires.

PMD- Owners & Responsibility
The Owners usually get the blame,In some cases it’s justified, but mostly they too are victims,who suffer the most. They charged their devices from electrical outlet not expecting a electrical fire to break out.We believe that there is a better way of dealing with the fire by putting in place technology safeguards that will address the immediate problems with overcharging & faulty batteries.

Out Of The Box Solutions -IoT Boffins & Coffee
In a recent meeting in Singapore our IoT Boffins from Holland were impressed with the numerous E-scooters on the road. The Dutch are a nation of cyclist with their own issues (1000 or more bicycles might end up in the canals of Amsterdam yearly), so we to compared the e-scooter vs pedal power benefits . We gathered around the coffee machine to discuss the prevalence of electric fires& how it could be mitigated. After several cups comes inspiration! It was agreed that solutions should meet the following requirements;

Improve On Existing Solution
Simple Enough to Adopt into existing framework
Stakeholders must see immediate benefit
Can be quantified & measured for evaluation
Affordable enough for most people to buy

Dutch Housing -Batteries In Energy Neutral Homes
Interestingly a solution does exist . The background being most houses in the Netherlands are energy neutral or energy +. They store excess power in Powerwall/Powerpacks in their case think the size of electric cars packs from Tesla or Nissan. These battery packs are subjected to similar charging & discharging cycles . The batteries & chargers are of course designed with better safety features, as added safety requirements the houses too have a automatic power cut off & alarm in case there is potential risk of fires from battery storage.

Smart Technology- A Fire Plan
Now our Boffins excel with these challenges and developed a plug & play solution that’s installed into standard wall plug outlet ,that will monitor the power & heat which are good indicators to detect if devices are malfunctioning. The information is send to a dedicated gateway which is on continuous monitoring mode. The gateway in the event of detecting a problem will automatically;

Shut the power to the wall socket
Sound the alarm
Send notification.

To the best of knowledge there have been no reports of fires breaking out in projects where these systems have been deployed.

IoT – Continue the conversation
The blog is a be starting point for discussion on how new technology can be readily applied to solve critical problems like electrical fires from E-scooter which did not exist just a few short years ago. The solutions are based on our expertise, and without doubt there must be other means to deal with other critical & dangerous issues and we welcome the sharing of information (https://www.iotsolaris.com/iot-community/).

Getting In Touch
We welcome stakeholders to share their views. Contact us to better understand ,evaluate pros & cons of deploying the fire prevention solutions that IoT technology is now able to offer.
Contributed by Arthur
https://www.iotsolaris.com/contact-us/

IoTSolaris -Introduction IoT for Construction

What is IoT?

The internet of things(I.o.T) is the connection of devices through the internet, a giant network of connected things. Even people can connect to the IoT through wearables and smartphones. If IoT is the connection of devices (including people), then this is already happening in construction. Many construction sites have internet connectivity to enable a connected job site. Connected devices on job sites provide number benefits to the project, the companies, and most of all the employees.

Improved worker safety

Many site workers have smartphones. Frequently many job sites enforce strict rules on phone usage to maintain worker safety. However, many employees have downloaded safety apps, like a fall detector, that work in the background even when the phone is in use. There are several different wearables to can improve safety. Some are separate devices that a worker wears. While some are embedded in personal protective equipment such as vests, helmets, and boots. They all function in the same way to monitor a worker’s vitals to prevent accidents before they happen.

Real-time reporting

With the data captured on the job site, will allow real-time progress reporting. Some of the ways that stakeholders receive progress reports include electronic daily reports, data reported directly to the BIM, drone footage, or internet connected video cameras. The real-time reporting allows stakeholders to gauge where the project is at and make any adjustments to keep the project on track.

Automated Workflows

Sensors and RFID tags on materials and equipment can help in proactive ordering materials and servicing equipment. When an employee checks out or ships material to a job site, he scans the item. The system detects low inventory and notifies an employee to place an order for more material. Previously running out of materials or equipment maintenance would cause delays. However, IoT in construction delivers automated workflows to minimize delays and keep projects moving forward.

Improved Building Lifespan

Smart thermostats, circuit breakers, and digital power meters are some of the ways building operators can monitor energy usage. If any abnormalities are seen, notifications are delivered to address quickly. With the proactive monitoring of building facilities, IoT increases the entire lifespan of the building. Now facility managers can address any issues promptly before they become more devastating and more expensive issues.

Reduce Cost & Increase Profits

I.o.T is making significant advancements for contractors looking to improve processes, reducing waste, and make more money. With new IoT technology coming, available in the construction industry, there is even more room for improvement. Combining IoT with artificial intelligence and machine learning would capture the data, analyze, and process it automatically. For example, if an HVAC system is needing maintenance, the system will proactively schedule a maintenance technician. The technology is working together seamlessly without human intervention only human notification.

IoT Solaris Goes Live !

We are excited to announce the launch of Solaris C.E.S Pte Ltd newly designed website www.iotsolaris.com. It is significant to us, to have this project completed in June 2019 which marks 15 years in business for Solaris C.E.S. Pte Ltd a Singapore based I.o.T, Construction Technology firm.

We being, pioneer innovators & adopters of I.o.T solutions for building applications, want to share our experience and showcase the benefits that can be derived by adopting our plug & play smart solutions. Our aim is to provide a single contact point for information, on the latest Construction Technology, IoT products & solutions, Data management solutions, that can be adopted into the Building & Construction industry.

Our website offers user-friendly browsing experience for our trusted and valued customers and business partners, Our website is designed for both and desktop and mobile version, URL is www.iotsolaris.com.

The new design also allows for streamlined menus, clear navigation, and a responsive layout for all platforms. Explore the site to learn more about our full spectrum of I.o.T solutions & products available for immediate application in the building & construction industry.

Social Media

We have placed special emphasis on the aspect of our website to foster improved communication with our clients & technology partners. We will costantly updating our content with helpful information , articles, blogs,company announcements & new technology developments . We welcome you to follow us on our social media & join us on I.o.T Solaris community site.

Design Team

A special thanks to Subraa and the EsourceIt Technologies web design team for making the redesign process a pleasure. They were exceptionally easy to work with and delivered creative and quality work within our time schedule. They also made themselves available for changes requested during the process and transferred our old site to the new design without any headaches.

The took our design idea of using interactive cubes & made it a key feature of our home page coupled with our quick communication links we are now easily contacted on WhatsApp & WeChat.

IoTSolaris -Exclusive Community for Construction Workers

A Digital Community Exclusively for Trades Workers in the United States

Trade Hound is an app that connects construction trade workers across the United States. The social networking app built specifically for construction workers offers an online forum to share work and life experiences. Over 22,500 construction workers across all 50 U.S. states are already using the Trade Hound mobile app.

Trade Hounds describes the app as a “Town Hall and social network” where construction and trade workers can connect with each other. This feed lets workers share stories, ask questions, seek advice and observe what’s happening across the U.S. construction industry.

“The Trade Hounds mission is to improve the lives of the workers who are building the world around,” says Peter Maglathlin, co-founder and CFO at Trade Hounds. “Our mobile application empowers construction workers across the skilled trades by connecting them with each other to discuss their unique construction experiences. Members can weigh in on projects, share stories,get advice and proudly showcase work photos, no matter their location.”

“We builtTrade Hounds for individual workers to access of one their most valuable resources: each other. Users can learn from each other, discuss best practices, grow their network and develop a digital identity to be used when seeking their next job. The construction community is a proud and active one. It’s about time they had a digital home to call their own,” Maglathlin says.

The App is available free on Apple & Android devices https://www.tradehounds.com/

Category: Blog