IoT + wireless sensors + CCTV = improved city fire control

Summary: The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a pilot project using the internet of things (IoT) and CCTV cameras to improve fire detection and response in residential facilities for the mobility impaired and vulnerable.

Why this is important: Smart Cities are ultimately about making urban areas operate more efficiently by improving the quality of life for its residents and those interacting with it.

The big theme: The built environment is an important sustainability theme, both as an integral part of societal existence but also a major decarbonisation (40% of energy-related GHG emissions) and resource consumption problem (40% of global raw materials) that needs investor attention. Including residential and commercial buildings, communal areas such as parks and supporting infrastructure such as energy networks, mobility, and water supply, it can have significant impacts on our health, well-being and equity & inclusion.

Summary of a story from SMG:

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched a pilot project using the internet of things (IoT) and CCTV cameras to improve fire detection and response in residential facilities for the mobility impaired and vulnerable, including children, disabled people and the elderly. The system uses wireless sensors to detect a fire and motion detection to track its source and the location of those inside. Mobility impaired users press wireless emergency bells to send alerts to the Seoul Emergency Operations Centre via a wired fire service network and fire safety platform. The situation room can also check CCTV footage. The project will be expanded to 844 facilities by 2024.

Let's take a look at why this is important...

Why this is important

Smart Cities are ultimately about making urban areas operate more efficiently by improving the quality of life for its residents and those interacting with it. This latest initiative in Seoul does exactly that, improving response times, minimising loss as well as enhancing the sense of security and well-being of vulnerable residents.

At a high level this could potentially be extended to include broader logistics including route optimisation and environmental control, such as identifying where pollution buildups are occurring to be addressed both tactically and strategically in terms of city design. Concerns around privacy need to be managed as well as cyber security vulnerabilities particularly around wireless sensors and other IoT devices. But giving the double trends of increasing urbanisation, and the rise in elderly and vulnerable people living alone, this could become a big theme trend.

Please read: important legal stuff.