The 10 High Tech Sensor Solution Providers

Editor’s Voice
With rapid urbanization and an ever-growing
population, the cities are handling a lot today. A
high concentration of population is slowly
increasing pressure on the available resources like land and
water which now need to be managed in a more efficient
way. Making cities “smarter” or developing a “Smart City”
is being touted as the solution to the impending problem.
A Smart City is defined as an urban area which uses
different types of sensors to collect data and supply
information used to manage the assets and resources
efficiently. A Smart city uses technology to improve its
existing infrastructure and add new service in order to
support the growing population. It is developed to provide a
safe, secure, environmental and efficient urban center with
advanced infrastructures such as sensors, electronic devices,
and networks to stimulate sustainable economic growth and
a high quality of life.
Sensing the Issues
The first step in the developmental concept of smart cities is
an Integrated Sensor Systems. A sensor is a device that
detects and responds to Physical parameters like light, heat,
motion, moisture, or pressure and converts them into an
electronic signal, which can be interpreted by humans or
can be stored in an autonomous system for reading or
further processing. An Integrated sensor system is
composed of multiple complementary sensors which are
internally as well as externally connected via wireless
network to a central unit that receives and processes data
creating a wireless sensor network. This multi-layer
networking is essential to satisfy the complex needs of
cities and demands for information necessary for smart
management.
Sensors are a crucial component of the whole system and
the concept of a smart city. A smart city is capable of
creating an efficient services delivery platform for public
and the municipal by installing sensors in the city. It also
creates a platform that allows the sharing of information
and gives it for proper use to the public, city managers,
businesses and professionals.
Classification and Types of Sensors
There are several ways in which sensors can be classified.
In the first classification of the sensors, they are divided into
Active and Passive on the basis of presence or absence of
an external power signal. Another classification is based on
the means of detection used in the sensor like Electric,
Biological, Chemical, Radioactive etc. Yet another
classification is based on conversion phenomenon i.e. the
input and the output like Photoelectric, Thermoelectric, etc.
The final classification of the sensors is Analog and Digital
Sensors on the basis of the output of data being continuous
or discrete and digital.
There are several types of sensors that can be put to use in
the smart city initiative based on their input. These are
Temperature Sensor, Proximity Sensor, IR Sensor (Infrared
Sensor) Pressure Sensor, Light Sensor, Smoke, Gas, and
Alcohol Sensor, Touch Sensor, Color Sensor, Humidity
Sensor, Tilt Sensor, Flow and Level Sensor and more.
Putting Sensors to Use
The sensors can be used for achieving the goal of optimal
use of resources. They can be used to control, detect issues,
make adjustments and manage the usage as per need. Here’s
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