The Internet of Things (IoT) is a cluster of technologies spanning hardware devices, networking, data collection and data applications. It allows any ‘thing’ to be connected to the internet. In an initiative spearheaded by Information Services and supported by Corporate Services and the School of Informatics, the University is setting up an IoT programme. Initially, a pilot IoT network will be established. This will allow us to capture real-time data from a large number of sensors (both mobile and static) across the campus and the city as a whole. The resulting data will yield an unrivalled picture of the built and natural environment, and of how people interact with each other and their environment.

Our goal for the IoT programme is to develop a shared IoT infrastructure that will support research, development and teaching with a range of partners both inside and outside the University, including SMEs and industry.  This initial, small scale proof of concept pilot project will deploy wireless sensors and wireless devices to enable environmental and space occupancy monitoring.

The IoT network requires a back end service infrastructure with the ability to analyse, manage and visualise the data which the IoT infrastructure will create.   This project will deliver that infrastructure.