Edenderry school deploys smart technology for environmental testing

A new step forward in the use of smart technology in Edenderry has been taken as St. Mary’s Secondary School has begun the deployment of environmental sensors in the school grounds for pupils to access temperature, humidity, air pressure and CO2 readings of the locations and to use the data for school work in relevant subjects and class room based assessments.

The move comes on foot of the launch of the ‘e-denderry IoT - Internet of Things Smart Town Technology’ project earlier this year.

Progress on the project to date includes ongoing development work, the forthcoming inclusion of the project in a new directory of national test beds for new technology, and recent funding for a feasibility study on the next stage of the project.

Overseeing the installation of the environmental sensors on Friday, October 15, as part of An Taisce Green Schools Climate Action Week, Sharon Ryan Vice Principal of the school reflects on the approach taken by Anne Marie Nestor, the science teacher who made initial contact before the summer with Offaly County Council and Cellnex as to how the school might contribute to and benefit from working with the e-denderry project.

Ms Ryan said: “This is a very interesting opportunity for us to move into further aspects of environment awareness within our buildings and to see how the metrics from around the different locations in the school can help us become aware of energy management opportunities that might ensue. As a well-established Green School, it’s always great to see what new ways of understanding our environment can help in school management systems and to get that information utilized by our school population”.

Paul Delaney, Sales Director with Cellnex Ireland outlines the benefits to all parties in the project. “We’re pleased to commence work with St Mary’s and colleagues there. It’s important to us that the educational aspects of what we are doing in the wider e-denderry project are considered useful activities for school science and other subjects; and from an information sharing and learning perspective as to how the Internet of Things and LoRaWAN can raise awareness of environmental conditions, indoor and outdoor as regards energy awareness and support to the climate change agenda”.

Welcoming the new aspect of the e-denderry project with thanks to Cellnex, Catriona Hilliard Broadband/Digital Officer, Offaly County Council says “This demonstrates further collaboration of the e-denderry project for community benefit; with the smart sensors from Safecility, the LoRaWAN network and the Cellnex Smartbrain. It’s a great chance for pupils to access smart information to support their learning and development and for the school to become part of smart activity in the town, as part of Digital Offaly work and our STEM support activities”.