What is it about?
In this article, we analyse which Internet of Things (IoT) technologies could work best in rural and hard-to-reach areas in Colombia, especially to help monitor and manage energy systems that are not connected to the traditional electricity grid. We focus on designing a proposal that is viable in places where connectivity is limited, but where it is urgent to have control over energy use and status. Our objective was to propose a system that is not only technically feasible but also suitable for the actual conditions in Colombia, thereby contributing to improving access to energy services in remote communities.
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it proposes a solution designed for the real conditions of rural areas in Colombia, where there is often no electricity grid or constant connectivity. Instead of applying standard technological models, we decided to analyse and propose an IoT system adapted to these contexts, taking into account limitations such as internet access, energy availability and local technical resources. The value of this work lies not only in exploring what technologies exist, but also how they could be practically integrated to monitor and manage energy in territories that have historically been disconnected. In a country with so many challenges in terms of energy equity, this proposal aims to bridge gaps through technology, but with its feet firmly on the ground.
Perspectives
It is common for technological systems to be designed from urban contexts and not take into account the conditions of rural or remote areas. This article, the result of a large project, allowed me to connect the technical with the social, to imagine possible solutions for communities that do not yet have full access to energy, and to do so from a realistic but also hopeful perspective. I hope this work contributes to opening conversations about how technology can be adapted to territories, and not the other way around, and that it motivates more people to conduct research with their feet on the ground and their eyes on equity.
Dr. Ramon Fernando Colmenares Quintero
Fundación Berstic and Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Analysis of IoT technologies suitable for remote areas in Colombia: Conceptual design of an IoT system for monitoring and managing distributed energy systems, Cleaner Engineering and Technology, August 2024, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.clet.2024.100783.
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