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Sensor data

What is it?

A sensor is a device, usually electronic, that takes a physical quality such as temperature or light, measures it and converts it into information or data that can then be analysed for insights.

Sensors have been around for a long time but their range and application has increased exponentially resulting in the Internet of Things (IoT) – where more and more objects are being manufactured with embedded sensors which gather data and allows those objects to communicate with each other. You can already buy carpet with inbuilt sensors that can tell when someone walks on it! This is being used by people concerned about an elderly relative to make sure they are safe and moving about. With the Internet of Things the sensors in the carpet could potentially communicate with sensors in the coffee machine so that as soon as someone gets out of bed in the morning and stands on the carpet this data triggers the coffee machine to turn on so that there is a hot cup of coffee waiting for you after you’ve taken your morning shower.

Advances in smart, sensor-based technology and connectivity promise to create new business models, improve business processes and performance while also reducing cost and potentially risk.

Why does it matter?

Sensors matter because they allow us to collect and analyse important data that can be used to deliver a whole range of benefits from improving performance to warning about a fault to measuring activity or safety.

There are only so many hours in the day and no one person or even a team of people can be expected to measure and monitor everything. Sensors can provide the data without any human involvement, freeing up human beings to do work that only human beings can do.

How can I use it in practice?

The application of sensors is literally endless. Most modern products are created with sensors. A smartphone, for example, is smart because of its sensors. A GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor identifies where we are using the GPS satellite navigation system and so long as we are with our phone it can pinpoint our location within a few metres. An accelerometer sensor detects acceleration or how quickly the phone is moving. It’s this technology that allows us to take better photos with our smartphones because it triggers the shutter when the camera is stationary or stable. A gyroscope sensor is used to maintain orientation and is used to rotate the screen. It is this sensor that is often utilised in gaming apps where you have to tilt the screen to direct the character or steer a racing car. A proximity sensor senses how close we are to other objects or locations – it is this type of sensor that is built into modern cars to help us to parallel park. Ambient sensors are the ones that detect changes in the ambiance or atmosphere, so it is this sensor that adjusts the backlight on our phone or saves power when it’s not being actively used. And finally, an NFC sensor is one of the latest communication protocols being utilised in smartphones. It is these NFC sensors that, when enabled, allow us to transfer funds just by bumping phones or waving our phone close to an appropriate payment machine.

There are also sensors in the natural environment – in the oceans for measuring the health, temperature and changes of the oceans in real time. Also, in Japan there are sensors in the soil to collect data on the soil’s health. That data can then be combined with weather data to help farmers optimise yield, including how much and when to put fertiliser on the crop.

Sensors can be applied to just about anything and can be used to measure just about anything so they could be extremely useful in gathering data that can then help your decision making.

How do I get started?

How you get started will depend on what you are trying to measure. Consider the possible data sources below and apply that to your business. Would you like to know how your customers move around your store for example – that could be achieved by measuring movement via some well-positioned sensors.

Perhaps you would like to save on your energy costs in your factory or office building – this could be achieved by sensors that detect movement or temperature so that if there is no one in a location the lights will be turned off automatically.

Suffice to say, the data gathering and application of sensor data is enormous.

Possible data sources

There are many different types of sensors which measure a variety of variables including:

  • Temperature – capable of detecting whether something gets hotter or colder. This could be very useful for triggering intervention and safety issues.
  • Light – capable of detecting changes in light from light to dark. This could be useful in minimising energy usage.
  • Pressure – capable of measuring if a component is under pressure or too much pressure.
  • Moisture – capable of measuring if something such as a machine part or an environment is becoming too dry or too damp. This could be useful if a product needs to be created in a particular environment or operates most effectively within a certain tolerance.
  • Level – capable of detecting the level of something such as the water level in an engine. This could be useful for ensuring a machine runs optimally.
  • Movement – capable of detecting movement. Again this could be useful within an engine or part to make sure the movement is within a normal range so as to minimise breakdown and wear and tear.
  • Proximity – capable of detecting if something is close or too close. This can be useful where objects need to be kept away from each other such as large machinery or plant equipment.

How difficult or costly is it to collect?

Sensors come in a wide variety of forms and function; from the very small and discrete to the most complex and elaborate equipment. Technological innovation is, however, lowering the size and cost all the time.

Even now using sensors to gather data is a very cost-effective method because it is done automatically without human involvement and yields a lot of consistent and accurate data.

Practical example

I worked with a small fashion retail company that had no data other than their traditional sales data. They wanted to increase sales but didn’t really know where to start. They didn’t know how successful their window display was or how many people came into the shop, or how many then converted to a sale. So we installed a small, discrete sensor into the shop windows that tracked mobile phone signals as people walked past the shop. The sensors would also measure how many people stopped to look at the window and for how long, and how many people then walked into the store – sales data would record who actually bought something.

By combining the data from inexpensive, readily available sensors placed in the window with transaction data we were able to measure conversion ratio, and test window displays and various offers to see which ones increased sales. By using sensor data strategically they increased revenue and also reduced costs significantly. Prior to opening the stores the retailer engaged a market research firm to assess the best location for each one. The sensor data proved that the footfall reported by the market research company was wrong and the passing traffic was insufficient to justify keeping one of the stores open. It was then closed, freeing up resources to focus on the stores that were making money.

Tips and traps

As with any data, it is important to collect the relevant and most meaningful data to help you answer your business questions. Because we are now surrounded by sensors, the biggest issue with sensor data is that it can be so easily generated in large quantities that we often collect too much data instead of the right data.

Another concern is privacy. Many people get increasingly concerned with the amount of data that is generated by sensors and machines that surround them. My recommendation is to be very open and make people aware of the sensors, what data they are collecting and how that data will be used.

Further reading and references

To find out more about sensor data and how it could benefit your business see for example:

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