Smart monitoring of Amsterdam's canals with Portpay

The Amsterdam canals are the beating heart of the city and are used intensively by residents, entrepreneurs and tourists every day. This hustle and bustle requires careful management to ensure safety on the water and maintain the quality of life in the city. Commissioned by the municipality of Amsterdam, Portpay is responsible for monitoring and managing navigation on the canals.

The challenge of the assignment

In order to effectively control safety, traffic and reducing inconvenience, continuous and reliable data is needed. The system must:

• Be operational 24/7
• function at locations without a fixed power supply
• processing and analyzing large amounts of data
• be resistant to severe weather conditions
• safe and easy to maintain

In addition, deviations from the standard must be made clear quickly so that adjustments can be made immediately.

The solution: an advanced monitoring system

Portpay has a advanced monitoring system developmentd that consists of smart sensors, cameras, and computers running Linux software. These components are strategically placed at major junctions along the Amsterdam canals.

The sensors measure multiple values at the same time and send their data via WiFi, 4G and Portpay's own LoRa network to a central database. Within the Portpay platform, these data streams are merged into usable information. By setting limit values, users are automatically alerted to different situations.

All collected data is also used for big data analyses. This recognizes trends and allows structural improvement proposals to be made.

Energy supply and housing

A crucial part of the system is the energy supply. The equipment is powered by Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO) batteries, known for their safety, longevity and high charging efficiency.

For this purpose, Elfa developed a robust stainless steel housing which integrates a LiFePobattery. This solution fully meets the customer's program of requirements. Thanks to the high energy density and fast loading time During the summer period, the system can charge up to 7 hours at night and function smoothly for up to 17 hours during the day.

Result of the developed system

With this solution, Portpay has a reliable, sustainable and secure monitoring system that:

• continuously collects data (24/7)
• has minimal maintenance requirements
• resistant to intensive use and weather influences
• contributes to better decision-making through data-driven insights

In doing so, Portpay effectively supports the municipality of Amsterdam in keeping the canals safe, livable and future-proof.

More about Portpay

Portpay specializes in smart solutions for water management and mobility. With innovative technologies, Portpay helps cities around the world monitor, manage and optimize their waterways.

For more information about Portpay, see: https://www.portpayinternational.com/