We’ve made a number updates to the wiki to add details for the current LoRaWAN gateways and Flood Network sensor(s). At the present time we only have one of the latter live and will be following up with details of additional sensors over the coming months. The next sensor should hopefully be live within the next week or so.
Data from sensors is being made available via MQTT in addition to via the official Flood Network Map. However, the format may be subject to change and so if you do make use of the MQTT feed be sure to put in place error checking which will notify you should this happen, and in which case the wiki should be consulted for details of any changes made.
An additional 5 Flood Sensors are planned for installation before the year end, with these and the associated data feeds being provided as part of a collaboration between Flood Network and AB Open. If you are based in the Upper Calder Valley, know of a key location and would like to host a sensor please get in touch.
IoTUK Boost Workshop Materials
Earlier this year we hosted a 2-day LoRaWAN workshop as part of the IoTUK Boost and the workshop notes for this, along with the bill of materials for the associated development kit, were added to the wiki. Since then we’ve made a few further tweaks to the accompanying code examples on GitHub and the wiki homepage has been updated with links. Hopefully these resources will prove useful to others who are just getting started and looking to prototype solutions.
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2 min read
IoTUK Boost application deadline and eligibility
The deadline for applying to the LPWAN Boost that is being run by AB Open in partnership with IoTUK, RS Components, The Things Network and Calderdale council is fast approaching.
If you would like to participate in the programme and receive support that includes development hardware, a 2-day hands-on workshop, 12 months development support and showcasing opportunities, don’t delay in completing and submitting an application!
Eligibility
We’ve had enquiries concerning eligibility from a number of organisations that are based outside of Calderdale, but that have interests in the region, e.g. customer sites. We’d like to note that the reason for framing the Boost in terms of Calderdale is primarily due to gateway location and the fact that we would be unable to offer network service in say, Cornwall, for example.
However, the programme is also open to SMEs and entrepreneurs that are based outside of Calderdale, but that are still able to participate in a meaningful way and benefit from the support provided. What this means in practice is ideally:
access to a LoRaWAN gateway
ability to attend the 2-day workshop
ability to make use of online etc. support
willingness to participate in showcasing opportunities
That said, we appreciate that some may be further along the development path and as such the basic training delivered via the initial workshop might not be needed in all cases. Here the focus may be more on later stage development or even a technology pilot, along with showcasing.
In particular, it is worth pointing out that there are LoRaWAN gateways in Leeds and Bradford, courtesy of the Leeds and Bradford Things Network Community initiative led by ODI Leeds. Those based in either city and working on LPWAN applications are very much encouraged to participate.
4 min read
Calderdale Businesses are Invited to Participate in LPWAN Technology Programme
IoTUK Boost Partner Working to Push the Region's Technology Lead
Halifax, West Yorkshire, 31st January 2017 — Open-source and technical communities consultancy AB Open has opened a call for businesses in the Calderdale area to participate in a free long-range wireless communications network testbed built with the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) applications in mind, as part of the IoTUK Boost project launched by the Digital and Future Cities Catapults.
Founded by Innovate UK, the government's official innovation agency, the Digital Catapult announced AB Open as a formal member of the IoTUK Boost programme late last year. Under the government-backed programme and in partnership with the Digital Catapult, RS Components, The Things Network and Calderdale Council, AB Open is launching a free initiative designed to support businesses working in the burgeoning Internet of Things sector within Calderdale through free connectivity to a testbed network using a proven low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) wireless communications standard called LoRaWAN, alongside ongoing development support. The goal: to help develop new and innovative IoT and M2M enabled applications, and to help lower the operating and maintenance costs associated with companies' current platforms.
Up to ten local businesses, ranging from individual entrepreneurs through to small and medium-sized enterprises, will be selected from those applying for the free programme. Successful applicants will be supplied with hardware for prototyping, trained during a two-day hands-on workshop, given a full 12 months of support, and given opportunities to showcase their LoRaWAN-enabled products and services upon completion.
"We're thrilled to be working with IoTUK, RS Components, The Things Network and Calderdale Council on introducing LPWAN technology to the region," says AB Open Managing Director Andrew Back, "and are excited to see how entrepreneurs and businesses will be able to build great new products and services using low-power, long-range communications."
“This fantastic initiative helps lower the barriers for local businesses to develop, experiment and deploy IoT applications”, said Pete Wood, DesignSpark Community Manager at RS Components.
Cllr Lisa Lambert, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Business Change and Customer Service, said: “We are delighted that AB Open is bringing this prestigious project to Calderdale. One of the Council’s priorities is to use new technology to improve services, so we support the project as it will enable innovative approaches across the borough – for example, new ways to measure air quality and river levels. It will also help to boost local businesses.”
More information on the Calderdale LPWAN Boost, including details of how local business can apply to participate, can be found on the official website.
ENDS
About AB Open
AB Open is an open source and technical communities consultancy specialising in embedded and wireless systems, based in Halifax, West Yorkshire. AB Open's clients include semiconductor companies, component distributors, equipment vendors, and service providers. For more information, please visit the website at http://abopen.com.
About IoTUK
Powered by the Digital Catapult and the Future Cities Catapult, IoTUK is a programme of activities that seeks to advance the UK's global leadership in the Internet of Things (IoT) and increase the adoption of high quality IoT technologies and services throughout businesses and the public sector.
The Digital Catapult's press release on the IoTUK Boost partnerships can be found at:
RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc, the global distributor for engineers. With operations in 32 countries, we offer more than 500,000 products through the internet, catalogues and at trade counters to over one million customers, shipping more than 44,000 parcels a day. Our products, sourced from 2,500 leading suppliers, include electronic components, electrical, automation and control, and test and measurement equipment, and engineering tools and consumables.
Electrocomponents is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year ended 31 March 2016 had revenues of £1.29bn.
For more information, please visit the website at www.rs-online.com.
About The Things Network
The Things Network is on a mission to build an open, distributed and crowd sourced IoT data network, owned and operated by its users. IoT developers across the globe use its open source technology and documentation to build innovative use cases for smart cities, industry, offices, agri, health, etc. To find out more visit: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/.
CONTACT
Andrew Back
AB Open
Unit C5, Tenterfields Business Park
Halifax
HX2 6EQ
Tel: +44 (0)7976 278735
Email: info@abopen.com https://abopen.com
