Four IoT Use Cases that Can Improve Our Environment

The Internet of Things facilitates advances in smart farming, environmental monitoring, gas detection and air quality monitoring.
Published: February 28, 2021

The importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) lies in how it prepares assets and items to perform automatically. With the use of sensor-based techniques and embedded devices, the IoT comprises advanced technologies that are leaving no stone unturned for improving industrial operations. Moreover, the IoT complies with environmental regulations, which makes it more effective in terms of increasing productivity and establishing brand value. Improvements have been taking place since the very beginning of the Industrial Revolution. It is in the generation of Industry 4.0 that automation and embedded devices make more sense than traditional approaches for monitoring industrial processes. Now is the time for real-time monitoring of assets and industrial equipment, and for advanced analytics that allow informed decision-making.

In considering the uniqueness of the IoT in the environmental sector, you can find broad areas to utilize the Internet of Things’ capabilities. Applications like environmental protection, extreme weather monitoring, species protection, smart farming, water safety and more can be included to improve environmental conditions. Added to this, there are several IoT use cases in the field of manufacturing, farming, lighting, buildings and so on. Such applications offer real-time services that include advanced analytics for better productivity and outcomes. Moreover, environmental sensors, intelligent farming, energy efficiency and energy requirements are a few countable factors that work for environmental improvements. Here are four IoT use cases that are helping the environment to improve at all angles.

Smart Farming
Efficient farming positively impacts the environment in numerous ways, and the IoT offers a means of doing so effectively. With rising populations and demands for food products, smart farming needs to come into existence for better fulfillment strategies. IoT-powered techniques provide better field management with real-time monitoring via sensors. Such technologies can be utilized to control crop yield, greenhouse irrigation facilities, drone-included field monitoring, moisture content analysis and more. Automatic irrigation can be an innovative method to fight periodic droughts, and it can provide actionable insights to monitor soil conditions.

Additionally, interconnected drones are being widely used to monitor farmlands and crop quality. It is a profound concept that helps growers to manage cultivation and harvesting processes effectively. Integrating a smart concept with your farming business lets you gain productivity in terms of better crop quality and revenue. You can operate a solution remotely by interconnecting your smart gadgets and witness real-time information regarding pest presence, water requirements and weather forecasts. This helps in making better decisions and provides better outcomes.

Environmental Monitoring
Keeping the environment healthy is the primary concern when it comes to having a better living standard. Especially in closed spaces, keeping the environment appropriate is a mandatory aspect for healthy survival. For instance, in the case of rooms and office spaces, maintaining a proper ambiance is required for improved workability and productivity. In addition, employees and residents need to stay in healthier places with cleaner and fresher air to breathe.

Using an IoT-integrated solution for environmental monitoring can prove beneficial for multiple purposes. The IoT comprises sensor-based technologies that enable automation and simplified management. Deploying sensor devices to monitor the presence of toxic components in air and water is an innovative way of keeping surroundings healthy for a wealthy future, and it helps to promote the environment’s evolution while keeping data for future analysis. There are times when people are quickly affected by the presence of toxicants and suffer from breathing problems. An  IoT solution for real-time environmental monitoring can prevent health issues and offer other benefits.

Gas Detection
Detecting the presence of toxic gases and taking necessary actions helps improve our environment at significant levels. You can integrate an IoT solution to detect toxic gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and so forth, as well as identify the presence of oxygen in required areas. That provides a real-time approach for measuring the concentration of gases, which fulfills requirements for business growth. An IoT-powered solution can provide instant resolution for improved business strategies.

In addition, the IoT offers automated services through sensor devices that capture the slightest gas leak in the air. You can gain insights through advanced analytics in your connected dashboard, which can display informative insights for a better understanding of the data. Such a smart gas-detection method would be beneficial to your business, as it can enhance employee safety against gas-leak damage. And in mining areas, you can install an IoT solution to detect the appropriateness of oxygen and take action if there is even the slightest decrease. Such a solution would provide real-time information and generate alerts on your gadget to allow informed decision-making and necessary actions.

Air Quality Monitoring
With the ever-increasing use of automobiles and huge industries, balancing the air quality index is a mandated step toward improving the environment. Manual methods to monitor the environment often produce errors and do not provide accurate results, which leads to poor management and health issues in society. Using an IoT-powered  air quality monitoring solution is an effective way of reducing pollution. Such a system would require the installation of sensors on relevant positions, and these devices would extract air quality data. This data-driven approach would employ multiple communication protocols that could display accurate data on your dashboard.

Integrating the IoT with the environment can bring about improvements in terms of living standards, people’s health and cleaner surroundings. With the help of sensor-based concepts, it is easier and faster to analyze data and predict future outcomes, which in turn provides a clearer path toward environmental improvement. The Internet of Things can enhance your business’s productivity and allow you to offer better services that will have a greater impact on individuals’ lives.

Sanjeev Verma is the founder and CEO of  Biz4Group, based out of Orlando, Fla. He conceptualized the idea of the Biz4 brand and founded Biz4Group and Biz4Intellia. Sanjeev has more than 20 years of experience in boosting IT-based startups to success. In the past, he has worked on leadership positions with Marriott Vacations, Disney, MasterCard, State Farm and Oracle. Under his leadership, Biz4Group develops, implements and monitors digital solutions ranging from IoT solutions and products, mobile and Web development, and digital marketing to full-stack development and CMS solutions.