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How has the IoT made it possible to meet the maintenance and service continuity challenges on technical sites?
As part of an internal innovation project, EDF’s user proximity services department was looking for a solution to remotely control the ambient conditions in its technical premises. Mr Penhouet, an IT and telecoms engineer, chose to work with the IoT, and LORAWAN in particular, because this technology met all the technical, time-to-market and cost constraints of the project.
The context
The critical nature of the electricity supplier’s business requires reliable IT and telecom solutions. However, even with a very low failure rate, a recurring observation is that incidents are often linked to the environment. An air-conditioning failure that caused the equipment to overheat was the trigger for the search for an innovative solution to anticipate such incidents.
The experimental project was therefore born out of the need to collect and analyze in real time key data relating to ambient conditions in technical premises – temperature, humidity, brightness – and to do so independently of the existing network.
To meet the cost constraint, Mr Penhouet and Mr Bouleau, the project leaders, quickly turned to LoRaWAN technology as the technical solution for autonomous data transmission. After sourcing a number of LoRa communicating sensors, they selected a quick-to-install multi-function sensor to measure all the necessary parameters.
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The solution
With technical facilities spread across the country, it was important to have a centralized management interface to provide a global overview. Two platforms were studied, including the Synox software suite, which was chosen for its maturity and scalability, while offering a controlled cost.
The SoM2M#IoT platform was tested to remotely manage all sensors and connectivity. It provides users with indicators that give an overall view of the fleet and its smooth operation. It is complemented by the SoDATA#Viz platform, which enables data to be analyzed and shared via dashboards updated in real time. Thanks to its e-mail notification system, the distribution and processing of information has become much more efficient. The pilot solution’s contacts now receive alerts when thresholds – such as temperature – are exceeded, speeding up the detection and correction of any incidents in complete safety.
The SoM2M#IoT platform
was tested to remotely manage all sensors and connectivity. It provides users with indicators that give an overall view of the fleet and its smooth operation.
The SoDATA#Viz platform
allows you to analyze data on dashboards updated in real time. Notifications make information dissemination and processing more efficient. Alerts are sent when thresholds are exceeded, facilitating the detection and correction of any incidents.
Mr. Penhouet explains, “We chose the Synox platforms because they enabled the management of connected objects and also offered an intuitive data visualization interface. The SoM2M#IoT platform is agnostic and integrates all the networks on the market (LoRa, Sigfox, Cellular…) which will enable us to integrate other sensors if required, whatever technology they use.”
We were looking for a mature solution for a rapid deployment, as proposed by Synox. From decision making, to the purchase of equipment and deployment (connectivity, dashboards …) thanks to the end-to-end support by Synox, the 1st Proof of Concept was completed in less than a month!
David PENHOUET, IT & telecom engineer
Identity card
Management: IT and Telecom Department
Department: User proximity service
Number of employees in the department: +1 000
Regional agency: East / North West
Scope
- 15 users of the solution
- 150 sensors at the end of 2019, 1000 in 2020
- +75 sites equipped in France
Goals
- Aim for zero network failure with remote monitoring in real time of the environment of the telecom technical premises (switch/servers)
- Have an independent LoRaWAN local network solution to benefit from a second means of information feedback
- Easily and securely access critical information to prevent the risk of incidents and breakdowns
Results
- Autonomy and time saving for accessing information on room conditions
- Maximization of equipment availability and optimized service continuity
- Energy savings through the provision of critical information on the use of technical rooms
The results
After an initial, conclusive Proof of Concept at 5 sites, the project moved into the pilot phase, with sensors installed at over 75 sites, with the aim of verifying the solution’s value proposition. The data collected has enabled us to develop the first dashboards we created, and to fine-tune the platform’s alert system. After 6 months’ use of the platforms and the creation of 75 dashboards by a team of 3 users, the incident detection processes have been structured, saving time in incident resolution.
Depending on the company’s direction, this project for remote monitoring of technical premises could be extended to most tertiary sites. The platforms will eventually be used by around fifteen people in charge of IT or building management at regional sites. Each manager will be able to remotely monitor compliance with recommended temperatures, thus guaranteeing optimum conditions in the technical rooms to extend equipment life and enable better management. In addition to improving environmental conditions, the solution has enabled us to identify new areas for improvement in facility management. Mr Penhouet explains, “Thanks to the data displayed in SoDATA#Viz, we have access to new information. We noticed that lights were often left on in unoccupied premises, so we can now set up alerts and save energy!”
Mr. Penhouet also mentions several complementary projects: “As Synox platforms are open and interoperable, the next test steps will be to transmit the data to our services platform via the MQTTS protocol for massive Big Data processing. We also plan to cross-reference them with other data sources to further improve our processes and monitoring.”
“We still have to validate the value proposition with our internal customers, which will enable us to open up the solution to other use cases and make this monitoring solution sustainable, even for more massive deployment,” concludes Mr. Penhouet.
“If I had to describe your solution in 3 words? Simplicity, connectivity and ergonomics.”
The Synox solution provides us with knowledge, and thanks to the reliability of the data reported, we have been able to identify a number of problems that are easy to resolve, such as non-compliance with recommended temperatures in technical rooms.
David PENHOUET, IT & telecom engineer
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