Municipal air quality measurement and monitoring for smart cities.

The topic of "Smart City" is becoming increasingly important in many municipalities. The digitalisation of infrastructure is intended to provide new insights and continuously improve the quality of life for citizens. Air quality measurement and monitoring plays an important role in this context. This application report shows how Vaisala and power supply specialist Bicker Elektronik have worked closely together to develop a reliable solution for carrying out measurements around the clock, 365 days a year, and transmitting measurement data securely – without having to lay additional power supply lines to the measuring stations.

Project description.
The measurement and monitoring of air quality is part of the "Smart City" concept for the digitalisation of infrastructure – here using the example of the city of Darmstadt / Germany. In order to achieve the most comprehensive monitoring of air quality, around 40 measuring locations were defined. To save the cost of laying new power supply lines, the sensor system consisting of the VAISALA AQT530 air quality transmitter and a gateway for data communication should be installed on site at the existing streetlights and supplied with 24 VDC via their 230 VAC power connection. Since the lighting only carries electricity in the dark, a continuous power supply was not guaranteed. That's why, in close collaboration with Bicker Elektronik, a buffered 24/7 power supply with night charging was created for safe operation around the clock.

The challenge.
Buffered outdoor power supply for environmental sensors and gateway.
The challenge was to develop a UPS solution for harsh outdoor use that ensures an uninterrupted 24V power supply for sensors and gateway, as there is no permanent power supply available on site. These locations only have street lights that are powered by 230VAC during lighting times. The buffer storage must be optimally charged at night in order to have sufficient energy available throughout the day to supply the sensors and gateway.

Further challenges arose from the climatic and seasonal changes.
In summer, the UPS and battery technology must withstand high temperatures and enable a longer supply time for sensors and gateway as the lanterns are switched on later and switched off earlier. It was crucial that the energy storage could be sufficiently recharged even with the shorter lighting time and that the capacity was dimensioned accordingly.

In winter the opposite situation occurs. The UPS has to cope with extremely low temperatures. While the lanterns shine for longer and thereby shorten the bridging time required to supply the sensors and the gateway. Battery storage systems generally cannot be charged as efficiently or quickly at low temperatures.

The aim was to find a solution that would reliably supply the sensors and the gateway with 24VDC at all times under all conceivable conditions. The battery technology in particular had to meet the high requirements in terms of thermal properties as well as safety and longevity.

The solution.
AC/DC UPS with LiFePO4 high-capacity battery and night charging.

With the tailor-made UPS solution UPSI-2406IP-38AC, the engineers at Bicker Elektronik were able to optimally meet the requirements profile. The robust and weatherproof IP65 aluminum housing protects the highly efficient AC/DC converter with wide range input, the UPS control and charging technology and the newly developed LiFePO4 high-performance battery. This battery technology and the integrated battery management system (BMS) with cell balancing ensure maximum safety, a particularly long service life and excellent performance at temperatures from -20 to +50°C. This means that a particularly reliable and uninterrupted power supply is guaranteed at all times, even under demanding operating conditions.

The UPSI-2406IP-38AC converts the input AC supply voltage (90-264VAC) into 24VDC during the night and forwards this directly to the connected environmental sensors via the UPS output, charges the connected energy storage in parallel and monitors all relevant parameters and currents and voltages. In the event of a voltage dip or power failure – in this case due to the street lighting being switched off in the morning – a MOSFET disconnects the input within a few microseconds and the sensor with gateway is supplied uninterrupted from the LiFePO4 energy storage throughout the entire day. The UPSI-2406IP-38AC provides a constantly regulated 24VDC output voltage.

The integrated LiFePO4 energy storage of the UPSI-2406IP-38AC impresses with particularly stable battery chemistry, a long service life of at least 10 years and up to 6000 full charge and discharge cycles. Bicker Elektronik deliberately uses particularly safe lithium iron phosphate chemistry for all high-performance battery packs, which makes thermal runaway almost impossible.

In contrast to supposedly cheap lead-gel batteries, high-quality lithium iron phosphate cells have a service life and cycle stability that are approximately 15-20 times longer. When calculating the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) over the entire period of use of at least 10 years, there is a significant cost advantage compared to lead-acid batteries, especially since the effort for maintenance and battery replacement with LiFePO4 is eliminated during this period.

The sealed housing elements and connections of the high-quality aluminum housing are resistant to water, ice, oil and dust in accordance with protection class IP65. An integrated pressure compensation element with a membrane prevents condensation inside the device. The mounting holes on the housing enable flexible wall or pole mounting. The optionally available pole mounting set PSZ-1100 is used for lamppost installation.

“We are working on innovations to better understand and predict weather and environmental phenomena. Thanks to the cooperation with Bicker Elektronik, completely new possibilities have opened up for using our measuring systems autonomously in 24/7 continuous operation,” comments Jens Dickau, Sales Manager Road Weather Systems Vaisala GmbH

Advantages & customer benefits.
By using the UPSI-2406IP-38-AC, the complex and costly laying of new power lines for the permanent power supply of the environmental sensors could be avoided. Thanks to the intelligent and powerful outdoor UPS solution with LiFePO4 buffering, the time between the lighting intervals of the street lights can be safely bridged - even in the summer months with short charging times at night. The UPS system also offers reliable protection as an emergency power supply in the event of a power failure, flicker or voltage dips.

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@VaisalaGroup @bicker_de @PresseBox #AirQuality #Environment

Managing biowaste.

Smart waste management of biowaste increases recycling rates and minimises residual waste volumes.

Smart waste management is one of the core tasks within smart cities, i.e. those urban areas in which innovative technologies and data-driven solutions are used. They aim to improve the quality of life of residents, minimise environmental impact and use resources more efficiently. Conserving resources is not just about recycling, but also about innovative approaches to collecting waste and then disposing of or processing it in the best possible way. One of the most important components of smart cities is therefore the introduction of efficient waste collection systems. In addition, from 1st May 2025 at the latest, waste from organic waste bins delivered for composting or fermentation in Germany may only contain a maximum of 3.0 percent by weight of foreign matter when delivered.

The German company c-trace GmbH* meets this challenge with its AI solution c-detect. The industry specialist for IT solutions for all aspects of waste disposal logistics specialises in telematics solutions for the trouble-free collection of organic waste from households. The purer the biowaste is delivered, the lower the effort and costs for the removal of foreign matter. In addition, the quantity and quality of compostable biowaste is increasing and with it the marketable end product, which has developed into an important raw material over time. The company has developed the first artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for detecting impurities during organic waste collection in order to ensure the highest possible purity of organic waste for further processing. 

Cameras as the reliable eyes of refuse collection vehicles.
"Contaminants in biowaste, especially plastics, cause high costs and make recycling time-consuming or even impossible," explains c-trace sales engineer Jan Birkhold. The c-detect computer vision system combines the system house's intelligent software with extremely robust and powerful uEye FA industrial cameras from IDS to view the contents of the organic waste bin using either "TopView" or "InsideView".

With the help of two cameras per system variant, c-trace can use object detection to identify all relevant types of materials and objects that have no place in biowaste. It detects trained contaminants such as plastic bags or metals and will also be able to distinguish between normal and biodegradable plastic bags in the future. Both static image recordings (TopView) and dynamic image recordings in the pouring process (InsideView) are recognised, processed and documented via image verification. The content is immediately evaluated in the vehicle using trained artificial intelligence. The analysis of the detection can be tracked in real time directly in the vehicle via a powerful AI on-board computer and the associated c-ident touch board. In the event of detection, an evidence photo is saved and automatically forwarded for analysis.

Detected waste TopView

The TopView variant utilises the view from above into each organic waste bin. For this purpose, two cameras are installed at the rear of the collection vehicle, above the bulk material. As soon as the system recognises impurities on the surface of the open organic waste container, the waste collection vehicle's dumping process is automatically stopped. "Thanks to the configurability of the system, it is possible to set the impurities for which the system should respond, depending on the degree of contamination," explains Jan Birkhold. "As soon as impurities are detected in the container, it is left unemptied so that the impurities do not enter the collection process."

The InsideView variant, on the other hand, uses two cameras in the pouring chamber. They are directed at the side of the bins and record images of the waste with high resolution and frame rate during the emptying process. If there are any foreign substances under the surface, these are also detected and documented when the container is emptied. The system also triggers an optical signal on the InsideView directly on the waste collection vehicle so that the refuse collector can provide the citizen with a sorting notice for the contaminated container. In addition, the recorded image evidence offers the possibility of repeatedly contaminated and emptied containers being billed to the citizen as more expensive residual waste emptying in order to involve him directly in the higher disposal costs. A combination of both variants is also possible. In this case, up to four IDS cameras on the collection vehicle take over the automatic control.

Detected waste InsideView

The vehicle data record is transferred with the corresponding image, GPS coordinates and transponder number in real time to the waste disposal company and the client (district or city) in the c-ware AIR software for evaluation or direct complaint processing. "Fast image processing is particularly important here. We were looking for a network-compatible, high-resolution camera that can be programmed independently," says Jan Birkhold, explaining the choice of camera model. Other decisive criteria included size, automatic exposure setting, protection class, robustness and stability in camera operation.

The GigE Vision® IDS camera, which c-trace utilises, is equipped with the compact 2/3" global shutter CMOS sensor IMX264 from Sony and ensures outstanding image quality, light sensitivity and an exceptionally high dynamic range. It has an internal 120 MB image memory and delivers virtually noise-free, high-contrast 5 MP images in 5:4 format at 22 fps, making it ideal for applications such as these with fluctuating lighting conditions. The IP65/67 protection class protects against dirt, dust and splash water - a must for use on refuse collection vehicles.

Another advantage of the integrated IDS cameras is their easy integration thanks to IDS peak. "Our developers benefit from the network compatibility, support for the C++ programming language and a large number of features within the programming environment," says Jan Birkhold. The data collected enables the biowaste to be reliably allocated to the respective bin or waste producer. Corresponding heat maps can be generated using the GPS coordinates. "Our customers use RFID transponders, which guarantee extremely high read rates and make the bins unmistakable, enabling direct allocation of the emptied bins to the citizen." 

All data can be viewed in real time and subsequently analysed. The inspection and evaluation of organic waste not only serves to sensitise the population to the need to dispose of unmixed organic waste, but also as a basis for decisions on material flow management. The separate processing of heavily soiled batches is controlled in a targeted manner, which reduces the processing technology and operating costs of disposal.

"The uEye FA cameras (pictured) become the unwavering eyes of refuse collection vehicles and support c-trace customers in improving the quality of biowaste," says IDS Managing Director Jan Hartmann, delighted with the resource-saving use of the IDS cameras. The AI-based software from c-trace learns continuously and thus constantly improves sorting purity and recycling rates. Together, the two components ensure the minimisation of residual waste, targeted material flow management, fewer microplastics in compost and, last but not least, greater recycling awareness among the population.

"The use of c-detect enables local authorities to document and analyse contaminants in biowaste sustainably, cost-effectively and effectively and to take appropriate measures to meet the increasing requirements of the biowaste ordinance," emphasises Jan Birkhold. "For cities and municipalities, it is increasingly about improving material cycles and flows at regional and local level," adds Jan Hartmann. "This optimisation of regional material cycles can lead to considerable resource conservation, and image processing technology can make an important contribution to this." 

Outlook.
For greater efficiency and sustainability, a camera system is to be used in future that will take event-related, data protection-compliant video recordings of unprovided waste containers in a defined radius of the expected container location on the collection vehicle. The c-gap vehicle system only records video footage if a transponder on a collection day's order route is not read by the identification system, as it is then assumed that a container has not been provided. This allows specific proof to be provided as to whether or not a complaint or subsequent journey for a container that has not been emptied is justified. The c-gap solution can save many kilometres and costs for waste disposal companies.

This shows promising approaches that AI already offers smart cities for the development of waste management and how it can support the necessary change. Districts, cities, municipalities and waste management companies must increasingly address this issue in order to meet the challenges of the future and work even more efficiently and in a way that conserves resources.

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* Since its foundation in 2005, c-trace GmbH has grown considerably and is now the industry specialist for IT solutions for all aspects of waste disposal logistics. This company offers districts, cities, municipalities and public and private waste disposal companies integrated, scalable system solutions to optimise waste disposal and thus make it more economical. The systems make information visible, reveal potential and optimise work and logistics processes in the office and on the road. Innovative telematics solutions based on the IoT are developed in the in-house Digital Lab to make waste logistics more intelligent.

@IDS_Imaging @mepaxIntPR #C_Trace #Waste 

FPGA machine vision.

Innodisk has announced its latest step into the AI market, with the launch of EXMU-X261, an FPGA Machine Vision Platform. Powered by AMD’s Xilinx Kria K26 SOM, which was designed to enable smart city and smart factory applications, Innodisk’s FPGA Machine Vision Platform is set to lead the way for industrial system integrators looking to develop machine vision applications.

Automated defect inspection, a key machine vision application, is an essential technology in modern manufacturing. Automated visual inspection guarantees that the product works as expected and meets specifications. In these cases, it is vital that a fast and highly accurate inspection system is used. Without AI, operators must manually inspect each product, taking an average of three seconds per item. Now, with the help of AI solutions such as Innodisk’s FPGA Machine Vision Platform, product inspection in factories can be automated, and the end result is not only faster and cheaper, but can be completely free of human error.

Innodisk’s FPGA Machine Vision Platform comes with 1GbE LAN, 4 USB 3.1 Gen1 ports, 2 M.2 slots, and a series of other expansion and connectivity options. Thanks to the platform’s 0° to 70 °C operational temperature support, and optional industrial temperature support from -40° to +85°C, EXMU-X261 is tough enough for the harshest of industrial environments. In addition, EXMU-X261 features support for Innodisk’s InnoAgent out-of-band remote management module, allowing the platform to be remotely managed from anywhere, even during a system crash or an in-band network failure. This is important for any automated system, as it allows for it to be completely unmanned, which further reduces manpower and maintenance costs.

Customers can take advantage of AMD’s Xilinx Kria K26 SOM’s ability to quickly get applications to market thanks to EXMU-X261’s full support for Innodisk’s AI Suite SDK. The suite includes an FPGA Model Zoo, as well as Innodisk’s in-house software solutions, such as iCAP (Innodisk Cloud Administration Platform), and iVIT (Innodisk Vision Intelligence Toolkit). iVIT for example, provides a deep learning environment for efficient development and deployment of “no-code-operation” solutions.

@Innodisk_Corp @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Smart

Industrial PoE switch.

Supports Mission-Critical Networks With High Power Demands

Westermo has introduced a new compact industrial Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch designed to support the ever-growing networking requirements for devices, such as security cameras, wireless access points and monitors. The Lynx 3510 PoE series is capable of supporting networks with greater power demands and is ideal for handling big data, high bandwidth, mission-critical applications typically found within transportation, manufacturing, energy and smart cities.

With power and data provided over the same cable, PoE helps to reduce network complexity and offers greater installation flexibility, reliability, and time and cost savings. The Lynx 3510 PoE enhances network capability by supporting the needs of more powered devices, with eight copper ports each providing gigabit speeds and up to 30W output. This is ideal for connecting HD IP CCTV cameras in industrial settings and other power-hungry applications. The Lynx 3510 PoE also offers redundant and fast failover connectivity, with Westermo’s FRNT ring protocol ensuring rapid network recovery should a node or connection be lost.

Ensuring the security of industrial data communication networks is of paramount importance, especially with cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated. To reduce risk and increase cyber resilience, the Lynx 3510 PoE has an extensive suite of advanced cybersecurity features. These can be used to build networks in compliance with the IEC 62443 standard, which defines technical security requirements for data communication network components.

“The Lynx 3510 PoE is the first product based on a new very powerful platform. Available both as switch and a router with impressive performance capable to handle the bandwidth of future networks.” said Henrik Jerregård, senior product manager at Westermo. “The Lynx 3510 PoE is extremely reliable and designed to maintain uninterrupted data communications in even the most challenging environmental conditions, and by offering a total power output of 240 W, this will help expand the capability of PoE networks.”

The DIN rail-mountable Lynx 3510 PoE has been extensively tested to meet a broad range of industry standards relating to electromagnetic compatibility, isolation, vibration and shock. With an IP40-rated fan-less all-metal housing, the ultra-robust switch has a wide operating temperature range. Superior build quality, industrial-grade components, a high level of isolation between interfaces and a redundant power supply helps to extend service life and creates an extremely reliable solution that contributes to a lower total cost of ownership.

Helping to reduce complexity, the Lynx 3510 PoE is powered by the WeOS operating system, which ensures continuous operation and support for an expanding range of communication protocols and features, and simplifies installation, operation and maintenance. WeOS provides future-proofed network solutions with high levels of resiliency and security.

@westermo @HHC_Lewis #Transportation #Manufacturing

Accelerating AI development with thermal imaging.

The data lifecycle management (DLM) application optimizes dataset development with access to an annotated infrared and visible library for neural network training and advanced model performance testing.

Conservator™, a cloud-based dataset development subscription software for perception engineers using thermal infrared and visible image datasets to train neural networks has been announced by Teledyne FLIR.

Subscribers also gain access to application specific segments of their annotated image library of more than one million images with more than 100 object label categories. Designed to meet the workflow demands of data scientists in automotive, security, and smart cities applications, Conservator scales to support enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) teams in the research and development of object detection models.

“Conservator is a powerful application for data scientists developing datasets with a full complement of workflow functions including annotation, version control, data right access and model performance,” said Arthur Stout, director of AI product management at Teledyne FLIR Infrared Imaging OEM. “AI starts with quality data and this application supports collaboration to advance multi-sensor neural network development in commercial and defense AI applications.”

Conservator includes dataset workflow tools for annotation, curation, quality assurance, and dataset version control. Built on a scalable and stable database, Conservator can manage petabyte scale libraries. In addition, the included Conservator Insights™ desktop tool provides analysis and visualization of model performance against ground truth references. This empowers data scientists to quickly pinpoint the specific images in large datasets causing false positives or missed detections, enabling rapid dataset iteration and neural network re-training.

Conservator follows the recent release of the Teledyne FLIR expanded free starter thermal dataset for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and self-driving vehicle researchers and developers. With both thermal and visible annotated images across fifteen object categories, the free starter thermal dataset allows the automotive and academic community to quickly evaluate the vehicle safety algorithm performance, neural network testing, and thermal sensors, such as the FLIR ADK™.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #Automotive