Innovation and Testing Centre

Project Description

The Innovation and Testing Centre is a 51-hectare facility located 40 km north of Perth’s Central Business District in Western Australia. This facility specializes in research, development, testing, and training for autonomous systems, remote operations, and robotics. It features three test beds used by various industries to develop and showcase products and services in real-world environments. Arnowa’s role in this project is to create a scalable smart infrastructure that enhances energy efficiency and provides real-time data for comprehensive monitoring and analytics.

Project Summary

Arnowa is responsible for providing the essential hardware, connectivity, and an analytical foundation that supports scalability across domains such as energy management, monitoring, and automation. The initial focus is on improving energy efficiency within the facility while deploying an analytical layer that offers insights through customized reporting, AI-driven analytics, and integration with third-party applications. Arnowa’s aim is to implement a robust smart grid and monitoring system, establishing the facility as a leader in innovation for autonomous and remote operations.

Challenges

The project faces several challenges, including improving a weak monitoring, reporting, and verification system and developing an integrated network that is both agile and scalable. Additionally, Arnowa needs to address the advanced demands of energy management, predictive maintenance, and environmental control across such a large facility.

Objective

Arnowa’s primary objective is to deploy a robust smart infrastructure that enhances the centre’s energy efficiency and monitoring capabilities. This includes deploying scalable hardware, ensuring real-time data collection, and establishing a comprehensive system for seamless system integration. The system is designed to be scalable and agile, helping improve overall facility management.

Solutions

Arnowa has implemented a solution involving the installation of fifteen electrical meters across five key sites within the facility, generating real-time data on 65 parameters per minute. This data feeds into a smart network infrastructure that provides real-time management and monitoring capabilities. The data and analytics are displayed via a web-based, no-code dashboard that is ISO compliant, offering energy status insights, predictive maintenance, and smart alerts for proactive facility management. Arnowa’s system operates on a network incorporating Modbus, Bacnet, 4G LTE, LoRa, LoRaWAN, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ensuring smooth connectivity and system operation.

Scope of Expansion

Arnowa’s system has the potential for expansion, including tracking and monitoring activities of individuals, controlling environmental conditions, implementing comprehensive environmental monitoring and management, creating a digital twin for enhanced visualization, managing open spaces and resources, developing net zero infrastructure with distributed energy resource (DER) integration, and leveraging AI and ML for deeper insights and analysis.

Results

Arnowa’s smart infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce electricity expenses and meet the project’s objectives within the specified time and budget. The implementation of the smart grid, monitoring, and analytics system will provide a complete, integrated solution that aligns with the facility’s goals of sustainability and innovation. Arnowa’s solution ensures energy efficiency and valuable insights for better resource management, positioning the Innovation and Testing Centre as a model for future development.

Location

• Innovation and Testing Centre, a 51-hectare facility located 40 km north of Perth’s Central Business District, Western Australia.

Challenge

• Improving a weak monitoring, reporting, and verification system.
• Developing an agile and scalable integrated network for advanced energy management.
• Meeting the demands for predictive maintenance and environmental control across a large facility.

Metering Hardware

• Installation of fifteen electrical meters across five key sites.
• Real-time data generation of 65 parameters per minute.
• Web-based, no-code dashboard compliant with ISO standards for energy usage insights and predictive maintenance algorithms.

Results

• Significant reduction in electricity expenses expected.
• Comprehensive smart grid, monitoring, and analytics system achieved within the specified time and budget.
• Enhanced operational visibility and resource management.
• Positioning the Innovation and Testing Centre as a model for future development in sustainability and innovation.