Building Smarter Homes with Edge Intelligence and Cloud Analytics
Smart buildings are no longer a vision of the future—they are being built today by combining sensors, edge computing, and cloud analytics. Our ongoing research project is exploring how everyday household systems can be connected to create intelligent, sustainable, and safe living spaces.
Connecting the Home to the Cloud
At the heart of the project is a gateway software deployed on a small edge device such as a Raspberry Pi. This gateway acts as the “bridge” between household systems and the cloud. It gathers data from smart meters, heating panels, and even door alarms, ensuring that multiple systems can communicate seamlessly.
Once the data is collected, it is securely sent to the cloud, where it can be processed, stored, and visualized. A user-friendly dashboard gives homeowners and facility managers insights into energy use, comfort, and safety—all in one place.
Smarter Energy Insights with Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring
A key part of the project is the use of smart meter data for Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). NILM is a technique that analyzes household electricity data to identify which appliances are running—without requiring separate sensors for each device. For example, the system can detect whether the washing machine is running or if the heating system has switched on, simply by looking at patterns in the electricity flow.
This allows residents to better understand their energy consumption, identify waste, and take steps toward energy efficiency.
Expanding with LoRaWAN for Remote Monitoring
Beyond household systems, the project explores the use of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology for remote monitoring. LoRaWAN is ideal for low-power sensors that need to send data across long distances.
Some exciting applications under development include:
- Septic tanks: Monitoring gas formation levels to ensure safe operation and prevent issues.
- Water tanks: Measuring water level and quality to improve household resource management.
By integrating these with the cloud dashboard, residents and building operators gain real-time visibility into essential but often-overlooked systems.
A Work in Progress
This project is still in progress, with researchers and engineers actively developing and testing the platform. The vision is to create a smart building ecosystem where energy efficiency, sustainability, and safety are managed intelligently through data.
As the project evolves, we aim to demonstrate how everyday homes can become smarter—not just through flashy gadgets, but by leveraging data-driven insights to improve quality of life.