Smart Waste Collection Processes - A Case Study about Smart Device Implementation

For decades the core processes of collecting waste have been unchanged. Through new IoT-technologies, advances in sensors, and data transfer technologies, data-driven smart waste collection processes will replace old inefficient collection processes. Causing a shift from fix collection intervals to collection on demand, supported by smart algorithms and innovative web-applications. However, implementing such ideas come along with some almost insurmountable challenges related to wireless data transfer, battery lifetime and IoT infrastructure. Therefore, the question arises of how to implement IoT solutions in such complex and challenging environments. In order to contribute to the existing research about smart cities and autonomous IoT devices, we implemented smart devices in glass containers, measuring filling level over several months. The research study’s outcomes are test results, data analysis and a prototype implementation for a reengineered waste collection process. Furthermore, we identified main challenges and key issues which obstruct the implementation and spread of such smart city applications

A Smart Waste Management System Framework Using IoT and LoRa for Green City Project

Waste management is a pressing concern for society, requiring substantial labor resources and impacting various social aspects. Green cities strive for achieving a net zero-carbon footprint, including efficient waste management. The waste management system deals with three problems that are interrelated: a) the timely checking of the status of bins to prevent overflow; b) checking the precise location of bins; and c) finding the optimal route to the filled bins. The existing systems fail to satisfy all three problem areas with a single solution. To track the overflow of the bin, the proposed model uses ultrasonic sensors, which are complemented with LoRa to transmit the exact location of the bins in a real-time environment. The existing models are not that efficient at calculating the exact bin-filled status along with the precise location of the bins. The Floyd-Warshall algorithm in the proposed model optimizes waste collection using the Floyd-Warshall algorithm to determine the shortest path. Leveraging low-cost IoT technologies, specifically LoRa modules for data transfer, our solution offers benefits such as simplicity, affordability, and ease of replacement. By employing the Floyd-Warshall algorithm with a time complexity of O (n^3), our method efficiently determines the most optimal waste pickup route, saving time and resources. This study presents a smart waste management solution utilising Arduino UNO microcontrollers, ultrasonic sensors, and LoRaWAN to measure waste levels accurately. The proposed strategy aims to create clean and pollution-free cities by addressing the problem of waste distribution caused by poor collection techniques