Controlling Extinguishing-Water Dampers in Disentis
LoRaWAN monitoring and control for remote municipal water reservoirs.
Industry: Public Sector Organization: Municipality of Disentis Location: Disentis, Switzerland Year: 2021
At a Glance
Connectivity
LoRaWAN without leased communication lines
Battery life
No replacement required since commissioning in 2018
Maintenance
Low effort through long transmission intervals
Installation
Sensors can be placed flexibly without local WLAN or cabling
Challenge
Monitoring reservoir levels and controlling extinguishing-water valves is expensive in rural areas. Remote locations often lack power and network infrastructure, while dedicated fibre or copper lines can cost more than the sensors themselves.
Solution
The municipality retrofitted its reservoirs with digital level sensors and IoT actuators connected to BuildingPro Suites through LoRaWAN. Operators can monitor fill levels and control the valves without installing leased lines or local WLAN.
Long, configurable transmission intervals reduce energy consumption. The sensor batteries have remained in service since commissioning in 2018, demonstrating the low-maintenance character of the solution.
Benefits
Remote infrastructure becomes economically viable to connect.
Wireless devices can be installed or repositioned where measurements are needed.
Multi-year battery operation reduces site visits and maintenance.
Standardized end-to-end encryption supports use in sensitive infrastructure.
The project demonstrates how LPWAN connectivity can extend digital monitoring and control to locations where conventional communication infrastructure would be impractical.
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