Data visualization tools: comparison of IoT platforms for Smart Cities, Smart Building, Smart Transport and Industry 4.0

Data visualization is one of the keys to successfully managing and interpreting the massive data generated by IoT technologies in the fields of smart cities, intelligent buildings, connected transport, and even Industry 4.0. This article will provide you with practical advice on choosing the best data visualization tools, based on real-life examples.

Data visualization tools transform raw data into readable, comprehensible and usable information, usually in the form of a data visualization table. And when it’s possible to interact with data, we talk about “Data Management”.

By 2022, ADEME and Arcep estimate the number of connected objects in France at around 244 million. There’s a lot of data out there, and it’s becoming increasingly complex as uses multiply. Data visualization tools then become indispensable for extracting effective performance indicators from this mass of information, which can be understood and interpreted by business users.

Use case: smart city

In a smart city or “intelligent territory”, data visualization helps local authorities to supervise the different uses they deploy, in different geographical areas or in specific places of activity. Collecting, analyzing and exploiting data enables us to optimize the many aspects of these situations.

For example, a data visualization tool provides real-time remote monitoring of floods and weather data, to alert people to any risk of flooding. This supervision is generally carried out on rivers upstream of towns, to give the population enough time to be alerted and warned in the event of flooding. But we can also connect roads to control traffic density, calculate the energy consumption of public lighting and automate its operation to save money, and make water management more efficient in public utilities.

Many of these use cases overlap to meet economic, social and environmental policies.

For smart cities, a visualization tool is essential:

• • Easy to use
  • Intuitive
  • Secure
  • Customizable
  • Available 24/7
  • Able to interface with other business tools

Indeed, local authorities, regardless of the size of their infrastructures, process various types of data, known as “sensitive” data, coming from a variety of objects and sometimes for very different uses.

They therefore need tailor-made support and a scalable tool that can evolve in line with public policies, reflecting the expectations of the society of the future, and integrate all types of use cases and metrics required.

For intelligent buildings, data visualization tools can be used to monitor energy consumption, building comfort, security and other essential parameters of the connected building. Unlike in a smart city, a building’s data will be fed back into the Building Operating System, also known as the “BOS”, i.e. the body that centralizes the management of objects and data in the building.

However, you don’t have to go to the extreme of creating this complex, highly advanced system.

For example, a medical establishment, a school or even a shopping center can connect different metrics linked to their business situations to improve monitoring, make savings, optimize comfort, or limit their environmental impact.

Good data visualization helps building managers make informed decisions to improve energy efficiency, maintenance management of equipment (such as elevators) and structures, and occupant comfort.

In the case of a smart building, it is essential to choose a :

• • Complete
  • Versatile
  • Secure
  • With multi-level access management
  • Evolutionary
  • Customizable

Read the testimonial from our customer FDI HABITAT on this subject.

Example of a smart building data visualization table using Synox’s SoDATA#Viz tool.

In the field of smart transport and intelligent logistics, we find another very important type of data: geolocation.

Whether for light vehicles, commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, trucks, trailers or other equipment, location is essential for a number of reasons.

It collects not only data on journeys made, but also all data from vehicles, which will be translated into alerts and precautions for fleet managers, drivers and operators.

Data visualization facilitates vehicle and equipment fleet management, route optimization, maintenance and asset profitability.

There’s a wealth of data and alerts to help you manage your transport and logistics with ease,

find out more here

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When it comes to smart transport & logistics, it’s essential to choose a :

• • Simple
  • Intuitive
  • Précis
  • In real time
  • Available 24/7
  • With multi-level access management

Data visualization table on the SoDATA#Viz tool from Synox, Editor and Integrator of IoT solutions. In this data visualization table, we understand that the user needs to geolocate his containers within a well-defined zone, and be alerted as soon as one of them enters or leaves this zone.

Don’t get formal about the fact that this sector is treated last. This is one of the sectors pioneering innovation to improve quality, efficiency and yield, with IoT technology. Industry 4.0 even has many use cases with the integration of artificial intelligence, such as: conditional preventive maintenance and the use of digital twins.

All this is fed by data, lots of data!
And unless we’re all “data analysts”, it’s up to the tools to adapt to people and usage.

A data visualization board is an essential tool that can be integrated into the day-to-day work of various trades. That’s why it has to add value.

In the case of industry and factories 4.0, the first lever is the optimization of the production chain and maintenance. Agents can view machine performance in real time, and identify and prioritize actions to be taken.

In the case of Industry 4.0, it is essential to give priority to a :

• • Suitable for industrial environments (or customizable)
  • Efficient
  • Reagent
  • Secure
  • Available 24/7
  • With multi-level access management
    
  • And a map

Imagine a dashboard that clearly shows the efficiency of the production line and anticipates potential breakdowns, thanks to the detection of minor events, thus improving efficiency and reducing work interruptions.

A study by the Europe info media reveals that “the American company General Electric has reduced its maintenance costs by 20%” with the adoption of connected objects! The IoT ensures greater productivity, improved efficiency and better quality of service.

Source : https://www.europe-infos.fr/business/5189/marche-iot-france-croissance-2023/

➡️ IoT platform comparison

1. 1. Compatibility with your infrastructure: check that the tool can effectively integrate your existing systems.
   2. Ease of use: opt for an intuitive user interface that will convince even the most reluctant.
   3. Adaptation: make sure that the tool is adapted to your sector and your use cases, or that it can be easily customized, without extra charges that would make the bill too high.
   4. Support: choose a supplier with good technical support, available and accessible training resources for you and your users.

SoDATA#Viz, our scalable data visualization platform, stands out for its ability to integrate with various business platforms, as does SoM2M#IoT, our device management platform. Both platforms are designed and developed by our teams, and reflect over 15 years’ experience in creating Machine to Machine and IoT solutions.

These platforms are used on a daily basis by various organizations: local authorities, social landlords, private companies and manufacturers. They offer a user-friendly interface, extensive customization, and technical support that is much appreciated by our customers.

Choosing the right data visualization tool is important for turning your IoT data into informed decisions. Discover how SoDATA#Viz can transform the way you visualize and interact with your IoT data.