Analysis of Darwin environmental sensor network

Project duration: Oct 2020 – Sept 2021

The City of Darwin environmental sensor network was established to provide a more localised understanding of heat and air quality across Darwin, to create datasets that can be used for public good and stimulate smart city innovation and assist decision making and operation of Darwin city. 

Smart sensors 

The ‘Switching on Darwin’ project featured a technology roll-out from 2019 to 2020 of twenty-four environmental sensing systems deployed across the CBD, at Darwin Airport and suburban areas within the Darwin Local Government Area. The generation of quality local environmental data can empower the development of digital tools (such as AirRater and digital twin) which can assist personal management of heat and air quality, and inform decisions by city managers. 

Data assessment 

The Darwin Living Lab project downloaded sensor data from the Cumulocity data base and was subjected to screening and filtering to remove obvious erroneous values and periods of known sensor faults, and comparison to data from existing sites operated by NT EPA who operate 3 Australian Standard monitoring sites collecting environmental data in conjunction with Bureau of Meteorology measurements of weather parameters. 

The project sought to resolve issues with data quality including low data capture rates (due to power, communications or sensor failure), sensor inaccuracy and drift, recommending solutions and ongoing maintenance protocols. Reliable sensor data allowed an understanding of diurnal heat cycles, changing conditions in heat and air quality across Darwin’s seasons, and spatial characteristics. The two-year data capture and analysis defines baseline conditions in Darwin from which the effectiveness of future interventions and change can be assessed.