Smart Cities pilot program

• Project categoryInnovation
• StatusIn progress
• Approx. start date01 July 2020

Council is participating in a Smart Cities pilot program, which brings together our digital and physical world with the help of sensors.

Maroondah is using three types of sensors as part of the pilot program: 

• bin sensor - monitors usage and capacity of the bin
• carpark sensor - monitors the frequency of use of the carpark (not for enforcement purposes)
• people counter - counts movements in an area, including the number of people and how long they stay.

About the sensors

People/movement sensors

The people/movement sensors use a combination of movement and wi-fi signals to detect the number of people using the space and how long they stay. The data collected will enable us to be more efficient and effective in our management and maintenance of the facility. All data collected by the sensors is anonymous and can in no way be linked back to an individual.

Bin sensors

The bin sensors monitor how often a bin is opened and how full it is. This means we can adjust our maintenance program to be more efficient and responsive to peak usage times. 

Sensor locations 

The sensors have been installed at specific locations around the municipality to provide real time data on how community assets are being used.

Sensors are currently installed at:

• Realm - people/movement sensor
• Eastfield Dog Park - people/movement sensor
• Croydon Main Street - waste bin sensor
• Hewish Road, Croydon - parking sensor

To date, many noteworthy benefits have been realised from the pilot program including having access to rich data and insights about how people are using our assets and capacity trends. This means we can better proactively maintain assets based on community use.

Following the pilot project Council is proposing to:

• continue supporting existing smart city pilot infrastructure and monitor sensor data, insights and trends for informed decision-making
• consider future use cases and potential partnerships
• consider future additional sensors in accordance with Maroondah 2040 community priorities.

In support of the pilot recommendations Maroondah has recently joined a Regional Smart City Partnership (with Casey, Knox, Boroondara, Stonnington and Frankston). As part of the partnership, Council will install additional movement sensors at:

• Croydon Town Square, Main Street public toilets
• HE Parker public toilets
• Keystone multi-purpose public toilets
• Jubilee Park pavilion public toilets
• Ambrie Avenue playground
• Packham Place playground
• Jubilee Park playgrounds

Council will use this data to better understand how Council assets are used by the community, as an input into service and asset planning.

Please note: all data collected by the sensors is anonymous and can in no way be linked back to an individual.

Further information

If you would like to know more information about the Smart Cities pilot program contact Council’s Asset Management team on 1300 88 22 33 or maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au.

Contact details