Social housing properties across Peterborough have been transformed into a ‘smart city’ pilot project between Cross Keys Homes and CityFibre. The project will explore how a network of sensors deployed throughout Cross Keys Homes’ properties could monitor health, safety and environmental factors as well as deliver cost savings.
The trial at three residential locations in Peterborough uses a network of sensors transmitting real-time data back to a network of antennas connected to CityFibre’s full-fibre network in the city, with implementation support from Comms365.
Claire Higgins, chief executive, Cross Keys Homes, said, “At the beginning of the trial we could never have guessed just how many uses and benefits the IoT technology would uncover. We have found new ways to ensure our homes are comfortable, safe and eco-friendly by addressing condensation, security, fire risk and energy waste, which in turn have led to significant cost and efficiency savings. The potential for this technology to transform operations for other housing providers and different public services is immense.”
During the trial, next-generation sensors were used to monitor humidity and condensation to improve the comfort of tenants while reducing the need for damp treatment or repair, and environmental sensors were used to address wasted heat in communal areas. Noise sensors also delivered further benefits by monitoring unauthorised activity in vacant properties, while parking sensors alerted staff to illegal parking in front of emergency exits. Additional sensors also were also used to monitor levels in water tanks and detect fire risks such as open fire doors.
Clayton Nash, group product head, CityFibre, said, “This has been a fantastic opportunity to evaluate the potential of our new full-fibre networks to support the IoT use-cases of the future. And while we don’t know how our lives will be transformed by IoT, we do know that this future will be built on a backbone of full-fibre infrastructure.”
