Iveda has launched a Smart Pole system that integrates an urban smart power system, remote meter management and smart city technologies including video surveillance, AI-based video analytics, location-based trackers and smart sensors, in a centralised management platform.

Iveda taps into existing light power networks and equips it with Utilus. Utilus consists of a smart power management and wireless mesh communications network with WiFi, 4G and 5G small cell capabilities and other wireless protocols as required.

Once light poles are equipped with Utilus, they communicate with each other, establishing a network that provides distributed video surveillance with AI video search technology and remote management of local devices such as trackers, water meters, electrical meters, valves, circuit breakers and sensors.

Utilus includes an energy storage battery system for continuous operation and backup should there be a municipal power outage. With Iveda Pole Gateway and IvedaSPS, the system acts as a microgrid to provide power to mission critical infrastructure when needed. It can also be used for electric car charging stations.

“Our smart city technologies are the culmination of almost two decades of product development and experience in providing cloud-based solutions,” said David Ly, CEO of Iveda. “Utilus adds a new level of security, safety and management tools for smart city initiatives. Whether it is instantly identifying and reporting a car accident or recognising a vehicle with a potential abducted child, seconds matter.”

Iveda’s partner in South Africa is on the verge of deploying Utilus for a pilot smart city project at an 18-acre section of a gated community in Johannesburg estimated at over $1.5 million for just the pilot. More details of the project will follow.

“Our partner believes a successful pilot would result in deployment of Iveda’s smart city solution throughout Johannesburg as well as other urban areas of South Africa,” said Ly. Johannesburg is the sixteenth largest built-up urban area footprint in the world with estimated 14 million population.