One of the most common causes of coronavirus infection is aerosol transmission: CO2 accumulation is a useful indicator to know the most favorable time to ventilate rooms, and therefore, to guarantee a safe working space.
The Madrid City Council has implemented a series of Sigfox’s 0G network compatible sensors to monitor CO2 levels remotely on the seven floors of the headquarters of Madrid’s Department of Works and Equipment. The sensors send alerts if excessive levels are detected, allowing the adaptation of the ventilation system to the optimum levels for every space.
The wireless sensors are based on the usage of Sigfox’s 0G network, which is the first low-power global network specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT). Furthermore, these sensors have enabled a simple and quick installation, and their 5-year autonomy prevents additional maintenance.
Sigfox, the 0G network pioneer and the world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) service provider, has deployed for the Madrid City Council a solution to reduce the risk of indoor coronavirus infection by measuring CO2 concentration through IoT technology and the use of its 0G network. The deployment has been carried out on all seven floors of the Madrid City Council’s Works and Equipment Department, located at Calle Alcalá 45, and is intended to help protect the health of workers inside the building.
One of the most common ways in which coronavirus is transmitted is through aerosols, droplets suspended in the air after sneezing or talking. CO2 levels above 1,000 ‘parts per million’ or ppm (a common measure of concentration) have also been shown to significantly increase the likelihood of airborne transmission of the virus. Therefore, CO2 accumulation can be a useful indicator of the optimal time for ventilation, and monitoring it will allow staff to return to their workplace in a staggered manner with the peace of mind that the risk of infection in the workplace is minimal.
The solution involves the use of a series of sensors compatibles with Sigfox’s 0G network, the first global low-power network specifically designed for IoT. The devices issue an automatic alert when an excessive level of CO2 concentration in the building’s air is exceeded, indicating to the maintenance manager the optimal time to ventilate the building.
On the one hand, this ensures the safety of the seven-story building, which includes a variety of offices, rooms and open space areas, by ventilating the offices before it is too late and the concentration of potentially infectious particles builds up above the desired level. On the other hand, excessive ventilation that inefficiently increases energy consumption is avoided.
The sensors used have a configurable measuring interval of at least 10 minutes and a battery life of more than 5 years. They do not require prior installation, cables or connection via WiFi or SIM cards, as they rely on Sigfox’s 0G radio network. Therefore, maintenance personnel can be sure that it will be operational even in the event of internet outages.
In comparison to most existing CO2 sensors, the connectivity of this solution allows for certain functionalities that set it apart:
– Remote measurement: the user can check CO2 levels remotely, without being physically present where they are installed.
– Near real-time measurement: the data displayed by the application is data generated at 10-minute intervals, guaranteeing measurement reliability.
– Telematic measurement: it is not necessary to bring any device close to the sensor to control its measurements: monitoring can be done from a mobile app.
Rebecca Crowe, Managing Director of Sigfox in Spain, said: “Our 0G network and its highly efficient approach allows for the scalability of projects like this one. We are pleased to have designed a solution for the City Council that helps its employees feel more secure in their workplace, while at the same time they can improve their energy efficiency by avoiding excessive indoor ventilation”.
Use cases
Sigfox is the 0G network pioneer and the world’s leading IoT (Internet of Things) service provider. Sigfox offers a unique combination of ultra-low cost and ultra-low power technologies supported by a global network, enabling businesses to gain visibility and track their assets worldwide. With more than 17 million connected devices and 60 million messages sent a day, Sigfox helps its customers to extract crucial data at the lowest cost and to accelerate their digital transformation in key areas such as Asset Tracking and Supply Chain.
ISO 9001 certified and surrounded by a large ecosystem of partners and IoT key players, Sigfox was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Labège, France, with offices in Boston, Dallas, Dubai, Madrid, Paris, Sao Paulo, Singapore and Tokyo.
