In Lebanese Vineyard, LoRaWAN Is Making Wine Better

Recycling bins throughout Dutch cities provide clear evidence of this successful IoT implementation. A sensor placed in each bin signals to collectors when it is full. As a result, waste vehicle collection routes can be optimized to reduce cost, traffic, and pollution.  The same solution is deployed in public places such as airports and train stations. The cleaners are informed when trash bins need to be emptied, improving the workload and efficiency of the cleaning staff. In both cases, IoT brings a higher quality of service and well-being for everyone.

Suez is also connecting waste collection trucks, equipped with load sensors. Treatment facilities are informed almost in real-time of the amount of trash expected from each truck. LPWA technologies ensure that even in complex city environments and at long distances in the countryside the trucks remain connected, improving their operation and streamlining the process. Optimal visibility and control of waste management are particularly critical when collecting hazardous waste: knowing exactly how much waste has been collected is a key tool in optimizing the treatment phase. For companies dealing with industrial waste, Suez’ IoT innovations help improve collection and especially guarantees traceability throughout the disposal chain.

Some cities are encouraging their homeowners to sort their waste by installing smart bins in individual homes. These bins weigh the amount of litter received, allowing for per usage consumer billing. This incentive-based program encourages everyone to be proactive and responsible in their personal behaviors.

Suez is proud to lead the waste management revolution to make it more:

• circular since it aims to regenerate resources essential to life
• concrete in so far as it involves tangible and innovative actions securing resources
• collaborative: it engages every contributor to better manage resources for the future.Even though the project is in its early stages, many results are already apparent. Château Kefraya’s employees are spending less time walking around the vineyard analyzing the vines themselves. They find the new data accurate and reliable and are even using it to compare with laboratory analysis of their grapes and during tastings. Furthermore, the estate intends to use the collected data in the future to determine how and when to take certain actions within resource management, such as optimal irrigation times and locations, which will then lead to higher production quality at a lower cost.
  

  “Now, by placing sensors in the field,” reports Dr. Chamoun, “(we) automatically collect data to achieve results that are faster, clearer and better.”

  Maher Choufani, IoT Project Manager at Libatel, has also been impressed by the speed and effectiveness in which the various parties worked together to implement a full LoRaWAN Iot solution from scratch. Within two months, they successfully collaborated with a major telecom operator, university research team, various IoT solutions providers and the wine estate itself to deploy the sensors, connect them through gateways to the platform and onward to users’ online dashboards.

  “I was surprised by how much IoT—especially LoRaWAN—helped the viticultural engineers improve wine quality, and therefore wine production,” Choufani said. “IoT is set to push the future of agriculture and farming to the next level.”

  While Libatel touts the evolution toward what they describe as “precision viticulture”, the country of Lebanon itself has further evidence that IoT can increase productivity and efficiency to boost the country’s exports and achieve its larger economic goals.