Local Climate Management Through Urban Heat Mapping

Project Description

This project is based in a historic city in New South Wales, Australia, northwest of Sydney. As one of the oldest inland settlements in the country, the city currently has a population of 44,112, with growth projections estimating a population of 56,560 by 2041. With its vibrant community, strong economy, and proximity to Sydney, the city provides an ideal environment for living and working. Arnowa’s focus in this project is to collect temperature data across different urban zones to understand and manage urban heat islands effectively.

Project Summary

Arnowa aimed to assess local climate conditions by collecting temperature data from various urban areas to develop smart city cooling strategies. The project included the deployment of 100 Zhaga-based NEMA sensors, strategically installed in streetlamps, and powered by a 220V supply for continuous real-time temperature monitoring. The data was gathered through five LoRaWAN-based gateways and displayed on a real-time monitoring dashboard, enabling the city to make informed decisions regarding its cooling strategies.

Challenges

• Lack of temperature data from various city zones
• Absence of climate regulatory policies
• Agility and scalability of the monitoring system

Objective

The primary objective of this project was to collect temperature data from diverse city zones to better understand urban heat islands. Arnowa also aimed to provide hardware, connectivity, and real-time monitoring tools to support the city’s smart cooling strategies while ensuring scalability for future expansions.

Solutions

Arnowa deployed 100 Zhaga-based NEMA sensors across the city, using existing streetlamps for power and ensuring continuous operation without the need for batteries. The sensors are integrated with five LoRaWAN-based gateways for seamless data transmission. The project dashboard provides real-time temperature data, helping the city to assess temperature variations across different areas and develop smart city cooling strategies. The system also laid the groundwork for future smart city initiatives, including environmental monitoring, smart street solutions, and enhanced city planning.

Results

• Enhanced data transparency and real-time monitoring of urban temperatures
• Significant operational benefits, with reduced complexity and increased visibility through centralized automation
• Estimated savings of AU $5,000,000 over 10 years

The project catalyzed the city’s broader Smart City initiative, supporting future environmental and asset management expansions

Location

• Historic city in New South Wales, Australia, with a population of 44,112, projected to grow to 56,560 by 2041

Challenge

• Lack of temperature data across city zones
• Absence of climate regulatory policies
• Ensuring scalability and agility of the monitoring system

Metering Hardware

• 100 Zhaga-based NEMA sensors installed in streetlamps, powered by a 220V supply
• Five LoRaWAN-based gateways for seamless data transmission
• Real-time monitoring dashboard for temperature data visualization

Results

• Enhanced transparency and real-time monitoring of urban temperatures
• Simplified operations with centralized automation and increased data visibility
• Estimated savings of AU $5,000,000 over 10 years
• Supported the city’s Smart City initiative for future environmental and asset management expansions