IoTnet Pilot

Wireless connection of low-power sensors and other IoT devices

With this pilot service you can make use of a controlled and reliable IoT network, specifically designed for connecting wireless low-power sensors and other IoT devices, based on LoRaWAN: Long Range Wide Area Network. This allows users to get started quickly and easily at all times, while ensuring that the data remains within our own controlled SURF network.

Studente zit op de grond en is met een robot aan het werk

Advantages

Prevent shadow IT

With IoTnet, we can keep data from IoT devices within our own controlled SURF network, monitor it ourselves, and decide where it goes.

Benefit from specialist knowledge

We bring LoRaWAN knowledge together at SURF, and all institutions can make use of it.

One network, a better solution

By jointly deploying a single LoRaWAN network, we can deliver a better solution for everyone.

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Why an IoTnet pilot?

The Internet of Things (IoT) enables researchers and students to easily collect data for a research project, thereby providing a deeper understanding of the technology’s potential. IoT sensors are also used to make buildings and campuses more efficient, sustainable and comfortable. We started this IoTnet pilot to support the growing demand for a tailored connection for IoT devices.

The right connection for every device

There are countless IoT devices, each serving a different purpose: different devices are connected in different ways. For example, via a network cable to be powered through the network, or via 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi.

iotroam has been developed for Wi-Fi connectivity. Increasingly, devices (often sensors) require only low bandwidth, low energy consumption and, for flexibility, batteries or a small rechargeable battery. Other networks have been developed for this purpose: IoT networks. The characteristics of such a network are:

Large scale: Capable of connecting billions of devices, from smart thermostats to industrial sensors and self-driving vehicles.
Low speeds: As many IoT devices mainly transmit simple data, such as measurement data, they do not require high speeds.
Energy efficiency: Optimised for devices with limited power supply, such as battery-powered sensors.
Security: Requires robust protection for the many connected devices and data streams to ensure privacy and security.

What is IoTnet?

To support the growing demand for a tailored connection for IoT devices, we have launched the IoTnet pilot. With IoTnet, SURF is establishing an IoT network, initiallyfocused on LoRaWAN. We are closely monitoring technical developments. If other technologies become relevant alongside LoRaWAN, we can add them to IoTnet.

How does LoRaWAN work?

LoRaWAN is an LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network), where LoRa stands for Long Range. It consists of the following components: 

Sensors: to transmit measurement data via the LoRa protocol.
LoRaWAN gateways: on-site at organisations, to collect the sensor data and forward it to the central environment. For larger buildings, clusters or campuses, we install outdoor gateways, supplemented where necessary with indoor gateways. This also provides coverage in the outdoor areas surrounding the buildings. For smaller buildings, indoor gateways are sufficient, depending on usage and the situation
Central environment: the so-called LoRaWAN network server (LNS). At IoTnet, this is based on open-source software. Here, the sensors are registered via a web interface and it is determined where the received data is sent for processing and visualisation.
Application server: where the data is stored, processed, combined and, where appropriate, visualised.

With IoTnet, SURF provides the LoRaWAN gateways and the central environment.

This is what IoTnet can do on and around campus:

IoTnet enables the creation of smart buildings on campus through:

Monitoring room occupancy.
Monitoring the utilisation of rooms and buildings.
Monitoring emergency lighting.
Measuring and controlling the indoor climate on that basis.
Providing insight into energy consumption and possible savings options.
Predictive maintenance (PdM) using IoT sensors, AI and machine learning to analyse real-time equipment data such as vibrations, temperature and acoustics to predict malfunctions before they occur.
Monitoring and sharing available parking spaces.

Specific applications and inspiring examples can be found here

IoTnet is a solution to 3 challenges:

Suppliers, researchers, and teachers are currently developing their own solutions for connecting devices to a network. This is resulting in too many different IoT infrastructures. IoTnet ensures that IoT connectivity is centrally available, an open infrastructure specifically for wireless low-power devices. Users can always get started quickly and easily.
The lack of specialist knowledge about IoT networks in IT departments. By offering IoTnet, IoT knowledge is brought together at SURF, and all institutions can make use of it.
No insight into data flows at external suppliers. With IoTnet, we can keep data from IoT devices within our own controlled SURF network, monitor it ourselves, and decide where it goes.

What are we testing in the pilot phase?

In the pilot phase, we are testing the experiences of institutions from various sectors with IoTnet. We are curious to find out how useful the service is perceived to be and how it scales when applied on a large scale. For the future roll-out of IoTnet, we want to investigate how this can best be approached and how we can set up monitoring and management effectively.

Future scenario

The aim is to include IoTnet in the basic fee and roll it out collectively at all institutions affiliated with SURF. In this way, we offer a cost-efficient IoT network for education and research in the Netherlands.