The use of IoT sensors at Cairngorms National Park will allow the National Park Authority to use smart technologies to monitor footfall, route usage and parking via North’s IoT Scotland network framework.
The £6m network was set-up by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and North to create an infrastructure for companies and organisations to tap into smart sensor applications.
North said the network will also be available to local businesses to deploy data gathering sensors providing them with what it claims will be “the opportunity to gain key data findings and insights”.
The network uses LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology to enable applications and services to collect data from devices and send it without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi or human involvement to “merge the physical and digital worlds”.
Proposed footfall and car park sensors will be installed around the Aviemore and Cairngorm region and will connect with the IoT Scotland network through gateways set up at Glenmore Lodge, Ciste, Day Lodge and two buildings in Aviemore.
Adam Streeter-Smith, recreation & access manager for the National Park Authority said the data would be used to monitor the most popular routes and car parks to ensure they are effectively managed to “prevent degradation of the natural surroundings and encourage drivers to reroute to less busy areas”.
Alasdair Rettie, group technical director at North, said: “The pandemic has seen a huge upsurge in people taking up walking and outdoor activities and it is important that data plays a role in monitoring such trends to protect beauty spots, ensuring that we can facilitate tourism in a sustainable way.
“Through the use of our IoT Scotland Network, organisations across the country are able to reap the benefits of smart technology which gives access to data that can shape services and environments to mirror the ever-changing ways in which we live and work.”
