26/05/2023
The Advantages of Wireless Temperature Monitoring Systems
A wireless temperature monitoring system provides a way to monitor environmental factors that could affect your server room, data centre, warehouse, and office locations. With a wireless system you can track a range of factors including temperature, humidity, water leakage and critical issues that could disrupt operations and affect the business continuity of your organisation. Environmental monitoring may also be a prerequisite to meet insurance or legislation requirements in pharmaceutical and food distribution industries.
Typical Costs Associated with a Wireless-based Monitoring System
Wireless monitoring provides a way to quickly roll-out a ‘cableless’ environmental monitoring system, the required sensors, and data loggers, and collect the data for analysis through a central monitoring software platform.
However, wireless systems can cost more to initially purchase than a cabled system. Connectivity and data logging is built-into the individual devices and gateways, rather than relying on a central base unit.
Monitoring sensors and devices can be installed with relative ease, without the need for ethernet cabling, throughout an office complete or warehouse for example, provided a reachable gateway is installed nearby to provide access to a network for data reporting to the monitoring software platform.
It is important to consider data collection and reporting from connectivity viewpoint. Most wireless-based monitoring systems will report to a cloud-based monitoring package. This can be proprietary to the equipment manufacture or an Azure-based dashboard or bespoke monitoring solution. The alternative is to run proprietary monitoring software onsite, on a local server.
External reporting (to a cloud-based portal) will require either access to a local WiFi network or the use of IoT-based network gateways using mobile communications. Mobile comms will rely on GSM type modems (including LoRA and Narrowband), and these will require mobile SIMS. The SIMS will have monthly data-packet costs, limitations, and may require a minimum 2year signup. A local WiFi network connection is to a degree, free in comparison.
Bypassing the local IT WiFi network can help can alleviate any perceived security concerns. This can be especially important for large corporate private or public sector organisations with IT and Cyber security policies that restrict connection to third-party devices and portals. Nothing can be connected to their local network without trials, tests, and cyber security verification. Whilst wireless IoT-based monitoring systems are cyber secure, these organisations must forcibly restrict access and enforce stringent measures due to the number of users they have and the size of their organisations and/or importance to national critical infrastructure.
A wireless system can be more time-consuming to setup, requiring specialist engineers on site to ensure correct data logging. Initial calibration certification and calibration services may also be required to ensure data logging accuracy.
How WiFi-Based Wireless Temperature Monitoring Systems Work
WiFi-based temperature monitoring systems use a network of sensors strategically placed throughout the building or building space to be monitored. Sensors can be deployed to capture information, with temperature, humidity, and water leakage, being the most popular measures, and to connect to third-party devices that can provide digital I/O (input/output) dry contacts including access doors, smoke, and fire detection systems. Sensors can also be used to data collect readings on AC ad DC power consumption, energy usage, CO2, carbon monoxide and air purity.
Real-Time Monitoring and Data Analysis
The sensors log data readings and automatically transmit these to a central monitoring software installation or cloud-based platform. The monitoring software monitors the data and automatically triggers and sends out email and SMS alerts when readings go outside of pre-set parameters to distribution lists. The logged data can also be analysed and graphed with trend analysis applied to uncover areas for system improvement.
Logging information in real-time can for example allow corrective actions to be taken to respond to an event. A rising temperature in a server room can indicate failure of the local air conditioning. A rise in air conditioning usage can result from windows and doors left open in an office or warehouse.
Energy Efficiency and Electricity Cost Savings
WiFi-based temperature monitoring systems can help building managers to optimise energy usage, improved operational practices and lower costs and carbon related emissions. Temperature variations within a building door vary dependent upon population, usage, and external weather conditions.
The recommended temperature for a server room is 18 to 25°C all-year round but this temperature range in an office could be uncomfortable for most in the depths of winter. By monitoring temperatures in real time provides building managers with more precise control over their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, improving employee welfare and productivity by ensuring a more comfortable working environment.
Predictive and Preventative Maintenance
The data from WiFi-based monitoring systems can help with maintenance planning and coordination. Trends can be identified for building area usage, and potential HVAC system problems, and high energy usage patterns. The logged data helps to more effectively and efficiently plan preventative maintenance to prevent costly service breakdowns and interruptions.
A Typical Wireless Monitoring System
The AKCP range of environmental monitoring systems is available as a fixed cable system (using a sensorProbeX+ SP1+, SP2+, SPX4 or SPX8 base unit) or a wireless system using a Wireless Tunnel Gateway and Wireless Tunnel Connector and sensors.
| Software (On Premise or Cloud) | Gateway | Sensors |
|---|---|---|
| ACKPro Server Software runs locally or on a cloud and provides access to the data from the AKCP Wireless Tunnel Gateway Server installed. | The AKCP Wireless Tunnel Gateway Server uses LoRa™ radio technology to monitor up to 30 sensorProbe+ Wireless Tunnel Connectors and collects data from the AKCP intelligent sensors. The Wireless Tunnel Gateway Server(s) reports the data collected from the sensors tunnels to the AKCPro Server, a local network or cloud-based software platform. | Each Wireless Tunnel Connector can up to 4x AKCP intelligent sensors and can collect readings for a specific area including environmental factors including, for example, temperature, humidity, water leakage and AC power present. The use of LoRa™ Technology allows the monitoring system to be installed over long distances (up to 1.5mile); useful for large industrial complexes and university campuses. Up to 30x Wireless Tunnel Connectors can be connected to 1x Wireless Tunnel Gateway allowing data from 120 sensors to be connected. |
An alternative approach from HW Group uses individual base units and sensors that can report either through the local WiFi network or Narrowband technology-based sensors to a cloud-base portal.
| Software (On Premise or Cloud) | Gateway | Sensors |
|---|---|---|
| HWg Cloud or Sensdesk | The STE2-R2 is a WiFi enabled monitoring unit, can connect to upto 5 plug in sensors. Install the STE2 units where you need the monitoring. | The STE2-R2 comes with a temperature sensor as standard, with additional sensors available for humidity, airflow, motion, smoke, vibration and air quality. |
| Self-contained in the sensor unit. Deploy in the areas you need to monitor. | Narrowband Sensors for temperature, water leakage, digital input and output (volt-free/dry contacts). |
For more information on LoRa and Narrowband see:
https://lora-alliance.org/
https://www.gsma.com/iot/narrow-band-internet-of-things-nb-iot/
Summary
In a connected world, we really on instantaneous data and become accustomed to being able to quickly roll-out IoT-based devices. Wireless developments in environmental monitoring allow typical server room and data centre systems to expand their application into others application areas. Whilst wireless may not be considered suitable for IT environments, it can play a key role in managing temperature & humidity, and other conditions in applications ranging from industrial manufacturing sites to university campuses, student accommodation, lecture halls and research laboratories, to hotels & restaurants, office complexes and even Airbnb rentals. All monitored in real-time and providing instantaneous alerts via email and SMS when a monitored condition goes critical.
