Unlocking IoT technology can create safer and sustainable communities: How Hammersmith & Fulham Council is using IoT to create safer streets

Despite the heightened uncertainty around the UK’s economic climate, the technology market appears to only have grown more ambitious. In a report released by Statista in April 2023, UK investment in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector is on the incline, with an expediential growth rate of 13.42% from now until 2028.

Accompanying these encouraging numbers, the UK Government has ramped up its investment into IoT education and employment, with its recent ‘Transforming for a digital future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap’ setting out cross-government ambitions to transform digital public services and deliver world-class digital technology and systems.

Whilst the roll-out of IoT is still relatively within its infancy, I am encouraged to see more and more sectors start to realise the power IoT holds to deliver more efficient and sustainable outcomes, as well as commercial benefits. Similarly, the societal impact of improved IoT use is profound, with many local authorities across the UK making huge investments into IoT transformations to benefit the health, wellbeing and happiness of residents.

For example, IoT is quickly reshaping the future of video surveillance. By connecting CCTV cameras to IoT devices that capture conditions such as temperature, air quality and humidity sensors, this can help local authorities monitor environmental statistics to help make informed decisions on the likes of traffic management solutions and safety issues such as overcrowding of public spaces.

Earlier this year, North was appointed to deliver the roll-out of state-of-the-art smart CCTV cameras across the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) that will help to enhance safety and security by monitoring a full 360-view of the area with clearer images achieved through enhanced sensors.

Through innovative IoT technology, the cameras will provide analytics to the council, allowing it to make informed decisions on rerouting traffic, air quality management, improving public spaces to engage with visitors and accessibility.

The significant investment made by LBHF has resulted in the most efficient, effective and forward-thinking CCTV system in London and underlines the local authority’s proactivity to making streets safer and cleaner for residents, businesses and visitors.

More widely, LBHF is also implementing stand-alone IoT devices in areas to monitor and improve elements such as air quality at popular locations, people management within parks to improve access and empty properties to prevent crime and dampness.

We have worked collaboratively with the team to help them get the most of out their IoT roll-out, which importantly benefits the people living within the borough through improved safety and cleaner and greener environments.

The future of IoT and video surveillance is exciting, as smart technology continues to reshape and revolutionise CCTV. Intelligent sensors and applications enhance existing CCTV capabilities and through enhanced automation and real-time data can improve how services are delivered, reduce costs and create greener environments. Most importantly, in my opinion, is that IoT holds the power

to create safer and healthier places whilst simultaneously allowing decision-makers to make more informed choices on how cities benefit communities, local economies and sustainability.