It might seem as if bridges, water pipelines and buildings are just passive objects used by humans, but if people outfit them with gauges and sensors, they're also valuable sources of information. These tools can communicate with humans about structural problems and maintenance needs so they can be properly taken care of.
ThingWorx, a company in a suburb west of Philadelphia, is based on the idea that objects can communicate with the people who maintain them. It collects information from sensors on buildings and other objects in a way that can be monitored, much like people follow their friends' activities on social media. And recently, ThingWorx joined a statewide project to develop “smart” infrastructure that shares information with those who maintain it.
The goal of the Pennsylvania Smart Infrastructure Incubator, based at Carnegie Mellon University, is to integrate technology into roads, the power grid and other infrastructure. IBM is also working on the project. Kuntz says high-tech communications tools could be used to monitor objects' structural condition and energy efficiency so local governments and private building owners can make them work more effectively.
“It's one thing to say this bridge is degrading or this building is using too much energy,” says Chris Kuntz, director of marketing for ThingWorx. “It's another to gather that data in a way that it can be used.”
Ultimately, those behind the project hope smart infrastructure in Pennsylvania can serve as a national model.
Source: Chris Kuntz, ThingWorx
Writer: Rebecca VanderMeulen