While COVId-19 related restrictions keep undergoing continuous modifications in the world, researchers and government officials have started investigating how Internet of Things technology might help collecting detailed information on post COVID-19 life, including mobility variations, retail, healthcare and trade.

Many IoT options are already under close examination by governments worldwide to create more focused post-COVID policies, to improve the physical environment and to collect socioeconomic and mobility data, helping governments to save money and communities to get back to their activities in activities safely.

Meshed is a good example of this trend. It is the main public and private LoRaWAN supplier of Australia and New Zealand.

Wollongong University SMART Faculty and Meshed’s LoRaWAN [low power and wide area network] provider are already using an IoT based instrument called nCounter to collect data on pedestrian transit in the aftermath of the quarantine.

nCounter uses Wi-Fi sensing technology to calculate the number of smart devices connected within 5-10 meters range: registration of times of entry, exit, and stopover in certain areas, on stationary vehicles, on cyclists and behind walls. 

Aggregated data (anonymous) are then displayed on a dashboard implemented by Mesh and transferred on a long range radio frequency via The Things Network.

nCounters operates in five Australian states to date, and is already capable of transmitting extremely detailed information on several factors relevant to COVID-19. Technology, data sharing and cooperation between public and private sector prove to be crucial to reduce mortality rate, manage public health care and the efficient allocation of resource, fostering change in mobility and influencing key sectors.

Possibilities deriving from the systematic use of IoT in the post COVID-19 area

IoT can show and help understanding population’s post-pandemic habits, helping local authorities to implement social support and economic recovery plans, e.g studying and analysing pedestrian movements’ trends. Even monitoring commercial transport activities may help both local governments and private actors to adopt more efficient solution to support companies and their fleets. Just to make and everyday example, we all witnessed how monitoring the cue before supermarkets proved to be essential during the quarantine. We believe this is the way to reach a more “comfortable”, smarter and safer life. A way and a map that we are building together.

*Read the complete article and more insights our blog https://360.here.com/iot-technology-covid-19