On the number 31, the prestigious economic newspaper talks about companies and innovative development models. Softech is among the 6 companies recognized as leaders in these new models.

Below the traslaction of the article:

“Since 1991, Softech has been developing systems for environmental monitoring and motorway traffic supervision and management.
Strengthened by a know-how that has grown over time, it offers technologically advanced and highly customizable solutions; this, combined with the typical dynamism of the company size (small business) and a strong international vocation, lead it to be present today on the European, Asian, United States and countries in the MENA area (Middle East North Africa).
The presence on such different markets involves a continuous investment of resources in R&D to satisfy an ever-changing demand and to integrate its offer with ever-new experience.
Softech believes in the strength of the group: in Italy, where it collaborates with the main airports and motorway authorities, it participates in business associations and clusters, to increase know-how and implement shared projects. He also strongly believes in the strategic value of his human resources and for this reason he supports young graduates with expert collaborators, creating an experiential balance essential for giving innovative and effective answers to a sector that is constantly renewing itself
Its system of values includes sustainable development, product quality, safety and reliability, also attested by the ISO 14001 – 9001 – 27001 certifications.“

With Internet of Things (IoT) we refer to the process of connecting physical objects of daily use to the Internet; potentially, each object can acquire its own identity in the digital world.

The idea behind the IoT is to make objects “intelligent” by interconnecting them, in order to exchange information owned, collected and / or processed.

A borderless paradigma

The Internet of Things is a paradigm that does not know, potentially, application boundaries: from cars that communicate with the road infrastructure to prevent accidents (smart mobility), to household appliances that coordinate to optimize the use of power ( smart home), to the production plants that exchange data with the products for the management of their life cycle, etc.

Each object can be made intelligent, that is, connected and communicating. By becoming “talking”, things allow us to inaugurate a horizon of new services capable of improving the quality of our life and our work. Everything becomes smart: more intelligent, more comfortable and more useful.

The starring in the IoT network

The undisputed protagonists of IoT systems are sensors, that is all those devices that allow to collect data that are then analyzed and processed in order to produce the knowledge necessary to react and make decisions. Decisions that can also be made by the objects themselves (eg: Smart Building).

There is a wide range of devices that can be inserted into an IoT network: from video cameras, to light detectors, to motion and proximity sensors to sound sensors, and so on.

The data collected by the sensors are aggregated by the gateway which, through the network, transmits them to other devices; in order to “talk”, the sensors must be connected.

The connection at the base of the IoT network

Traditional networks, which we normally rely on to obtain connectivity (Wi-Fi or 3G / 4G) bring with them various problems; to better understand, we report some wireless technologies in a graph, grouping them by range of action and bandwidth.

Cellular communications (such as 2G, 3G, 4G, indicated in the orange area) transfer medium to large amounts of data over a wide range of coverage; they are certainly suitable for outdoor use. For the purposes of the IoT network, however, the cost of the technology appears excessive.

The wireless technologies (in green) are also suitable for communications of medium to large amounts of data but within a range of a few meters, therefore ideal for indoors. They do not require a subscription and therefore have a reduced cost. However they do affect the battery life which should be changed too often.

LoRa, on the other hand, is a Low power wide area technology, which facilitates the development of networks in which nodes require “low mobility” and very limited data exchange, and are characterized by very low energy consumption.

LoRa becomes LoRaWAN when to the physical layer we add the MAC (Media Access Control) layer necessary to extend the communication to the internet.

What is LoRaWAN?

The LoRa Alliance describes LoRaWan as “a Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) network protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-powered ‘objects’ to the Internet in regional, national or global networks and addresses the key requirements of the Internet of Things (IoT) such as two-way communication, end-to-end security, mobility and location services. “. The LoRaWAN protocol is a Low Power Wide Area Networking (LPWAN) communication protocol that runs on LoRa. The LoRaWAN specification is open so that anyone can set up and manage a LoRa network.

Main features:

• Long range: allows a throw of up to 50 km.
• Low battery consumption: LoRa technology allows to obtain a sensor battery life of over 10 years.
• Bi-directional communication.
• Geolocation: allows localization without the need for GPS.
• Cost reduction: infrastructure, maintenance costs, the cost of sensors.
• Interoperability: any LoRaWan sensor can be connected to an existing network.
• Security: data is end-to-end encrypted.

Solutions by Softech

The IoT sensors developed by Softech communicate via the LoRaWAN protocol and are equipped with specific software for analyzing the data collected from a cognitive and / or predictive point of view.

In our portfolio of IoT solutions, systems dedicated to SMART CITY, thanks to which it is possible to detect data: on traffic, on the use of a certain service, on air quality, on vibrations and noises … but also data relating to the geolocation of infrastructures (such as parking for the disabled, charging stations for electric vehicles, etc.) or on the frequency of transit of means of transport or access to a digital platform, etc.

In particular, we have devised a SMART PARKING system that is particularly innovative because it is not intended for monitoring stalls, but aimed at facilitating control by the competent authorities and making the city areas safe.

Moreover

With the appropriate adjustments, the IoT can also be used for developments with a view to SMART BUILDING: and this is exactly what our SARA IoT system does, which allows you to monitor multiple factors (not only environmental ones) inside the airports, and to activate intelligent responses when certain thresholds are reached. The system can also be applied to contexts other than the airport, such as public offices and smart buildings.

Also on the motorway, with the same technology, we have created a system for SAFETY in parking areas which is characterized by reduced costs, ease of installation and the possibility of integration with sensors for other functions (click here to find out more).

With Internet of Things (IoT) we refer to the process of connecting physical objects of daily use to the Internet; potentially, each object can acquire its own identity in the digital world.

The idea behind the IoT is to make objects “intelligent” by interconnecting them, in order to exchange information owned, collected and / or processed.

A borderless paradigma

The Internet of Things is a paradigm that does not know, potentially, application boundaries: from cars that communicate with the road infrastructure to prevent accidents (smart mobility), to household appliances that coordinate to optimize the use of power ( smart home), to the production plants that exchange data with the products for the management of their life cycle, etc.

Each object can be made intelligent, that is, connected and communicating. By becoming “talking”, things allow us to inaugurate a horizon of new services capable of improving the quality of our life and our work. Everything becomes smart: more intelligent, more comfortable and more useful.

The starring in the IoT network

The undisputed protagonists of IoT systems are sensors, that is all those devices that allow to collect data that are then analyzed and processed in order to produce the knowledge necessary to react and make decisions. Decisions that can also be made by the objects themselves (eg: Smart Building).

There is a wide range of devices that can be inserted into an IoT network: from video cameras, to light detectors, to motion and proximity sensors to sound sensors, and so on.

The data collected by the sensors are aggregated by the gateway which, through the network, transmits them to other devices; in order to “talk”, the sensors must be connected.

The connection at the base of the IoT network

Traditional networks, which we normally rely on to obtain connectivity (Wi-Fi or 3G / 4G) bring with them various problems; to better understand, we report some wireless technologies in a graph, grouping them by range of action and bandwidth.

Cellular communications (such as 2G, 3G, 4G, indicated in the orange area) transfer medium to large amounts of data over a wide range of coverage; they are certainly suitable for outdoor use. For the purposes of the IoT network, however, the cost of the technology appears excessive.

The wireless technologies (in green) are also suitable for communications of medium to large amounts of data but within a range of a few meters, therefore ideal for indoors. They do not require a subscription and therefore have a reduced cost. However they do affect the battery life which should be changed too often.

LoRa, on the other hand, is a Low power wide area technology, which facilitates the development of networks in which nodes require “low mobility” and very limited data exchange, and are characterized by very low energy consumption.

LoRa becomes LoRaWAN when to the physical layer we add the MAC (Media Access Control) layer necessary to extend the communication to the internet.

What is LoRaWAN?

The LoRa Alliance describes LoRaWan as “a Low Power, Wide Area (LPWA) network protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-powered ‘objects’ to the Internet in regional, national or global networks and addresses the key requirements of the Internet of Things (IoT) such as two-way communication, end-to-end security, mobility and location services. “. The LoRaWAN protocol is a Low Power Wide Area Networking (LPWAN) communication protocol that runs on LoRa. The LoRaWAN specification is open so that anyone can set up and manage a LoRa network.

Main features:

• Long range: allows a throw of up to 50 km.
• Low battery consumption: LoRa technology allows to obtain a sensor battery life of over 10 years.
• Bi-directional communication.
• Geolocation: allows localization without the need for GPS.
• Cost reduction: infrastructure, maintenance costs, the cost of sensors.
• Interoperability: any LoRaWan sensor can be connected to an existing network.
• Security: data is end-to-end encrypted.

Solutions by Softech

The IoT sensors developed by Softech communicate via the LoRaWAN protocol and are equipped with specific software for analyzing the data collected from a cognitive and / or predictive point of view.

In our portfolio of IoT solutions, systems dedicated to SMART CITY, thanks to which it is possible to detect data: on traffic, on the use of a certain service, on air quality, on vibrations and noises … but also data relating to the geolocation of infrastructures (such as parking for the disabled, charging stations for electric vehicles, etc.) or on the frequency of transit of means of transport or access to a digital platform, etc.

In particular, we have devised a SMART PARKING system that is particularly innovative because it is not intended for monitoring stalls, but aimed at facilitating control by the competent authorities and making the city areas safe.

Moreover

With the appropriate adjustments, the IoT can also be used for developments with a view to SMART BUILDING: and this is exactly what our SARA IoT system does, which allows you to monitor multiple factors (not only environmental ones) inside the airports, and to activate intelligent responses when certain thresholds are reached. The system can also be applied to contexts other than the airport, such as public offices and smart buildings.

Also on the motorway, with the same technology, we have created a system for SAFETY in parking areas which is characterized by reduced costs, ease of installation and the possibility of integration with sensors for other functions (click here to find out more).

A traffic monitoring system can be considered as an information chain consisting of the following parts:

• Sensor: device that produces a signal describing the characteristics of the phenomenon to be detected
• Detector: encodes the information detected by the sensor
• Trasmission System: transfers the coded information to the central unit
• Treatment System: processes the data according to the purpose for which they were collected.

Detection methods are essentially two:

• Manual: detection is performed by a human operator
• Automatic: detection takes place through ad hoc systems

For long-term operations, the automatic mode is certainly more suitable as it allows data to be collected reliably and accurately.

An automatic monitoring system usually consists of four basic components:

A detector, an interpreter, a recorder and a computer.

There are various detection technologies to choose from depending on the purpose being pursued.

Among the most common: inductive loops, triboelectric cables and pneumatic tubes.

Inductive Loops

An inductive loop is nothing more than a winding of electric wire, normally consisting of one or two turns arranged in a square or rectangular shape; the current that passes inside the wire generates a magnetic field that undergoes a variation as the metal structure of the vehicle passes; this variation produces an electrical signal that allows the detection of the passage (as well as of the characteristics) of the vehicle.

A monitoring system based on inductive loops generally consists of one or two loops placed on the sides of the carriageway and connected to a detector device. The loops can be installed above the pavement or embedded in the road surface depending on whether the detection system is temporary or permanent.

To date this appears to be the most widely used method. The reasons can be traced back to low costs (mostly related to installation), the accuracy of the measurements that are not affected by atmospheric phenomena and the long life of the instrument.

Pneumatic Tubes

ensor consisting of a pneumatic tube positioned on the carriageway and connected to a counter device placed at the edge of the road. When the wheels of a vehicle crush the pneumatic tube, a pressure wave is generated inside it which generates an impulse in the meter.

Ease of installation and low cost are the main advantages of the sensor which, however, also has some disadvantages, including:

• counting inaccuracy in the case of high flows
• the impossibility of obtaining the transit data of multiaxial vehicles (in fact a truck with six axles is detected as three u.v.e.)
• danger of detachment of the pipe from the road pavement
• the inability to count on multiple lanes
• the risk of mechanical breakage of the tube especially by heavy vehicles

Triboelectric Cables

Similar to that with pneumatic tubes, but it is based on the triboelectric effect, that is the electrification by rubbing of a dielectric material. In practice, when the wheels of a vehicle pass over the cable, the steel wires of the outer ring of the cable rub the surface of the dielectric material, electrifying it, and thus causing an accumulation of electric charge; this involves sending an electrical signal and therefore recording the passage of the vehicle axis.
Therefore, similar to pneumatic tubes, triboelectric cables count the vehicles in transit starting from the detection of the axles of the vehicles themselves. However, compared to pneumatic tubes, triboelectric sensors are to be preferred because they are more robust and resistant, less visible and in any case not much more expensive.