Our client, AquaLogix, has developed a groundbreaking smart water meter packed with impressive functionalities such as water leak detection and the ability to shut off the valve remotely. As a result, major industry players have expressed keen interest, indicating the likelihood of integration with other cutting-edge technologies.

In this article, we delve into an exciting project poised to transform water management as we know it. While we are unable to disclose all the intricate details at this time, we will provide an overview, a backstory, and an exploration of the current challenges. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that the talented team at Ai Web Solutions Ltd crafted all the design work, including the logo, app, and dashboard.

These smart water meters are often installed in areas with intermittent power supply and weak or non-existent Wi-Fi signals. Consequently, to tackle these challenges, the meters were built with GSM mobile SIM cards. However, this introduced a new hurdle: the high power consumption associated with GSM connectivity. To address this issue, the smart meters incorporate self-powering and self-charging capabilities through flowing water. Despite this technological innovation, GSM communication still consumes substantial power, leading to data transmission occurring only once a day, except during events like flood alerts.

With the rapid expansion of LoRa networks, our client made a strategic decision to switch from GSM modules to LoRa modules. LoRa, an acronym for Long Range Radio Communication, provides an impressive transmission range of up to 10 miles in rural areas while consuming significantly less power than GSM. Although the data size limitation of LoRa poses a challenge, this project primarily focuses on transmitting meter readings, making LoRa the ideal solution.

Throughout the project, we have achieved significant milestones. We successfully established a robust database and an API to support seamless integration with other technologies that may require connection to our system. Additionally, we developed an intuitive admin dashboard for streamlined management. Moreover, our team designed and created an end-user app, ensuring a user-friendly experience.

The LoRa-enabled smart meter now transmits data to The Things Network, a secure and efficient platform for receiving LoRa data via gateways. Utilising web hooks, we can pull this data within seconds and store it in our database. To ensure efficient data transmission, we compress the data into small sizes and encode it in HEX code within a JSON format. Upon retrieval, we decode the data by understanding the message's purpose and applying the relevant formula specific to that particular message.

Our system offers versatile settings, allowing us to set usage limits based on household size and issue warnings for excessive usage or potential leaks. Furthermore, we have implemented the capability to schedule valve shutdowns when homeowners are away, ensuring no surprises upon their return.

The potential applications for this advanced system are extensive. It has the capacity to revolutionise water management in various domains, including:

The possibilities and potential impact of this smart water metering system are immense. We feel privileged and proud to be working with such a transformative solution alongside a team of dedicated professionals. The journey is still ongoing, and we eagerly await to see the widespread adoption and impact of this remarkable system. Let's witness where this groundbreaking system ultimately finds its place in revolutionising water management.