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Smart cities are data-driven. They have hundreds of endpoints collecting data and reporting to a central location. Unfortunately, the centralizing device is not always the same. City buses report to a transportation application, and traffic monitoring sends data to the traffic control center. The city knows if its buses are on schedule, but it doesn’t know if traffic congestion will delay one or more of them. The lack of interconnectivity was a limiting factor of the second generation of smart cities. Today’s third generation is focused on leveraging the data-collecting infrastructure to create a smarter, interconnected city.  It requires a resilient system architecture that can move volumes of data across a network quickly and reliably. Effective network management in smart cities becomes essential for a resilient infrastructure.

Building an Infrastructure with Power over Ethernet

Cities need a physical infrastructure to collect data. They need cameras on street corners and sensors on light poles. They need city buses that can relay their location and smart lights to control traffic flow. However, deploying the devices can be costly if power lines and data cables must be installed. Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology can eliminate the need for an external power source, reducing points of failure, decreasing costs, and simplifying network management without limiting data transmission speeds or volume.

What is PoE?

Power over Ethernet technology transmits electrical power and data over a single Ethernet cable. Following the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standards, PoE equipment can send power and data up to 328 feet. Extenders can increase the distance without losing signal strength. 

A PoE-enabled switch or injector can add power to an Ethernet cable. Switches typically support a maximum of 48 to 52 ports, providing connectivity for multiple IoT devices. Removing the need for a power connection gives smart cities the flexibility they need to scale.

A smart city network must transmit significant data volumes at high speed. The latest PoE standards (IEEE 802.3bt) operate on Category 5e, 6, and 6a Ethernet cables, transferring data at rates up to 40 Gbps. The standard is backward compatible, allowing cities to continue to use older devices while deploying newer solutions.

Increasing Flexibility

Finding parking downtown can be trying. Drivers can circle an area multiple times before finding an empty parking space.  Special sports events or community activities can make it challenging to find parking. Implementing an integrated parking application can help reduce the frustration of finding a parking spot and lower the emissions from circling or idling while waiting for a place to open up.

PoE devices can collect data in parking garages and forward it to a centralizing application that lets drivers view, reserve, and pay for parking through a mobile app. PoE devices can be added or moved for live entertainment or events where more parking is needed.

The parking app reduces congestion as drivers look for a place to park. The technology makes it easier for drivers to locate available parking and simplifies network management in smart cities by aggregating the data in a central application. It illustrates how smart cities work to improve the quality of life for their residents.

Reducing Points of Failure

Every network wire, cable, and device can potentially fail. By eliminating electrical wiring, PoE technology reduces the number of possible failure points on a network. With fewer points to check, network personnel can locate the failure faster with less impact on operations.

When a PoE device connects to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), PoE technology increases the infrastructure’s resiliency. Even if power is unavailable, a PoE device can continue to operate. With a multi-port switch, cities can keep systems running until power is restored.

For example, smart cities deploy smart streetlight systems that transmit pertinent data to a centralized dashboard. The system can detect damaged streetlights and can track power consumption. With PoE-enabled devices connected to a UPS, lights continue to illuminate streets even during power outages, making travel safer and more secure. If severe weather comprises a streetlight, the status can be reported to ensure maintenance crews can fix the downed streetlight promptly.

Decreasing Costs

Cost is one of the largest obstacles to third-generation smart cities. It isn’t just the initial purchase price that slows growth but also the ongoing maintenance of a smart infrastructure. With hundreds, if not thousands, of components, smart networks can quickly exceed a city’s budget. PoE technology can improve a municipality’s return on investment in smart city solutions.

PoE solutions reduce electrical wiring. Electricians are no longer needed when deploying IoT devices. IT departments can run Ethernet cables to connect devices, making it easier to deploy new components quickly and cost-effectively. With fewer wires, a PoE-based network reduces the cost of ongoing maintenance and network management.

Simplifying Network Management in Smart Cities

Smart cities need infrastructures that are flexible, reliable, and cost-effective. They need resilient and scalable architectures that operate regardless of internal failures or external forces. They need a solution, such as the NMS-500 Network Management System, that allows IT personnel to assess network performance at a glance.

PoE technology reduces the electrical wires used in a city-wide network. This simplifies installation and also monitoring. There’s one less point of failure and fewer feet of wiring to maintain.  Network personnel can respond faster with fewer failure points to check. 

Deploying managed PoE switches allows network engineers to segment the network for improved security and focused monitoring. Potential hackers cannot move laterally across a network if it is divided into segments with strict access control. The segmentation also divides devices into zones a PoE switch can monitor, allowing administrators to evaluate nodes before looking at devices.

Planet Technology USA’s NMS-500 is a network management system incorporating PoE technology with a visual management solution to see a consolidated view of a city-wide network. Its concentrator consolidates data for faster retrieval and facilitates edge computing to simplify data management at centralized nodes.