Internet of Things (IoT)
The National Computer Board recognizes the vision of the Internet of Things (IoT) which describes a future where many everyday devices are interconnected through a network. These devices collect and share data of themselves and their surroundings to allow widespread monitoring, analyzation, optimization, and control.
The NCB has recently setup a private IOT platform based on modern technologies which consists of a stack of software. The objective is to provide IOT services to government organisations allowing them to reap IoT benefits without hefty set-up costs and long deployment lead time for a device. The Unified and central platform provides for device management, device data collection and application enablement. The IOT platform follows recognised Network Reference Model for standards compliancy and interoperability. The platform consists of one of the world’s most popular network servers for connecting and monitoring end nodes and is supported by a wide range of connected products. Our network currently provide for:
- receiving data from the connected Devices,
- processing the received data,
- providing the received data to connected Applications, and
- controlling Devices
Projects currently in progress:
- Smart farming
- Water Quality Monitoring
The Practical uses for IoT identified in government includes the setting up of an IOT platform, the monitoring of Air Quality, Management of traffic and reduction of automobile pollution with the use of Real-time data coming from sensors in roads, weathering information, public transportation, and car GPS devices. Detection of flooding and earthquakes will provide earlier warnings to citizens
The Objectives
The Objectives are:
- develop a common platform to enable real-time data to be used in the design of innovative services and applications.
- develop APIs for real-time data to be used in innovative applications for various sectors in a view to improve efficiency and increase productivity.
- promote latest IOT communications standards and data transmission protocols.
- focus on learning, researching and more importantly the hands-on experimentation to discover and demonstrate the promise of the Internet of Things.
- sensitise and inspire companies, entrepreneurs, IT professionals , school leavers and the general public on the potential of the IoT on how they can leverage latest open hardware with open source software to prototype new products/applications and bring commercial products hence creating opportunities whereby contributing to our economy.
- connect and learn from data influx of new information which would help to more quickly respond to challenges such as reducing energy consumption or helping first responders safely assess dangerous situations.
- create the right environment to stimulate IoT innovations and business opportunities.
- gain efficiencies and cost savings to enhance the quality of life of Citizens across various sectors
- promote the importance of edge computing in leveraging critical information for better and fast decision making
Collaboration with Other Institutions
The NCB collaborated with the ITU in the organisation of a regional workshop on the development of ICT ecosystem to harness Internet-of-Things (IoT).
The participants gained knowledge regarding the technology and standards relating to IoTs, the critical parts of the ICT ecosystem required to mainstream IoTs, how IoTs can be deployed in other verticals through visualization of practical examples and other skills required on developing their own national and enterprise level strategies;
As at January 2020, more than 50 IOT architects have been trained by International training institution.
The NCB IoT Team also participated in the following events:
- Demo stands for Infotech Mauritius/Rodrigues 2017 and 2018 where innovative devices such as arduinos, Raspberry Pis and various sensors with applications were displayed.
- Demo stand for InnovTech 2019
- Inter Village Innovation Competition at Moka
Future developments
Beside setting the IOT software platform, working towards a connected island with the setting up of the latest Infrastructures and more capacity building on latest IOT technologies is envisaged.
GIS for Local Authorities
The objective is to set up the necessary infrastructure at the GOC to host the Geospatial data of Local Authorities (LAs) as well as develop the applications and interfaces to allow users manage assets of LAs.
The project consists of using modern open source technologies for the back end, develop the interfaces, applications and as tools for data collection. The spatial component will use open spatial consortium standards for ease of interoperability among various interfaces.
The project consists of:
- Mobile Apps and virtual geotagging for GIS Data Collection
- GIS Infrastructure
- Interfaces
- Citizens’ Support - Reporting Mobile App
- Workers Mobile Application