Semtech and risk management firm Kairos are using LoRa technology to enhance water monitoring and leak protection at the renowned Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco.

Once a chocolate factory, Ghirardelli Square is a landmark public square with shops and restaurants and a five-star hotel in the Marina District of San Francisco. The lower floors of the clock tower are home to Ghirardelli Square’s main chocolate shop.

Kairos’ leak detection strip sensors and gateways based on Semtech’s LoRa technology connect to the cloud to enable real-time monitoring. If water leaks are detected, these sensors send an instantaneous alert to facilities management so any potential damage to the property can be reduced or eliminated with quick action.

Largely considered to be the USA’s first successful real-estate adaptive reuse project, Ghirardelli Square is a blend of rich history and contemporary infrastructure. Integrating the leak protection systems without disrupting the tenant and customer experience, or critical infrastructure, is a typical challenge that acquirers and restoration teams encounter across the USA. Putting modern, non-intrusive facility management systems at the heart of all risk mitigation efforts is critical to preserving these iconic assets.

“The USA spends upwards of $1bn annually on restoration projects, promoting economic, environmental and educational benefits for businesses and consumers,” said Tom Mueller, executive vice president at Semtech. “As we modernise and preserve more historical locations, we must use minimally invasive, low-power and long-range risk mitigation that does not disrupt the cultural experience. From water leaks to smoke detection, to air quality, to power management, and more, LoRa is the answer. And, in the case of Ghirardelli Square, who doesn’t like a wonderful piece of chocolate?”

Previously, rainfall led to water intrusion into one of the main switchgear rooms at Ghirardelli Square, resulting in temporary interruptions for the building and neighbouring businesses. With the application of Noah multifunction leak sensors, based on LoRa technology and running on a LoRaWan, the site team addressed this. The patented asset protection system detected multiple leaks within the first month itself, successfully preventing substantial damage.

“Having built a real-estate home service business and witnessed the aftermath of over 3000 water damage incidents made me realise the size of this problem that plagues about 14,000 homes a day in the USA,” said Dean Fung-A-Wing, chief executive officer of Kairos. “Water detection systems for commercial and multifamily properties must be affordable, require minimal maintenance and consume little energy to provide a good return on investment and environmental benefits. With Semtech’s LoRa technology, our discrete Kairos sensors significantly impact even the most challenging real-estate assets. Our sensors install in seconds while providing data, coverage and protection for up to ten years.”