Bristol City Council is building a £17m series of 'Internet of Things' based communications networks, designed to make it the UK's first IoT demonstrator city region, under the Government's Superconnected Cities programme.
The networks will aim to improve traffic flows, air quality and reduce congestion, by collecting and analysing data on real-time road and environmental conditions from a mesh of small sensors fixed to lampposts across the city.
The age of the 'humble lampost'?
Data will also be gleaned from the GPS-enabled smartphones and in-vehicle navigation systems of locally-recruited volunteers.
Project managing director, Paul Wilson said: 'As we bring our infrastructure live throughout 2016 we are looking forward to demonstrating new levels of connectivity that will be the hallmarks of the smart city of the future’.
Key communications elements include city-wide in-ground fibre infrastructure and 1.5km of experimental wireless connectivity through the Harbourside entertainment district.
The networks will roll out from central Bristol into Bath and neighbouring areas of North Somerset and South Gloucestershire over the next three years.
‘Bristol Is Open’ is a joint venture between the city council and the University of Bristol.
