National Park IoT network to aid behaviour monitoring

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is working with North, a UK IoT service and solutions provider to help manage the visitor experience at the UK’s largest National Park situated in the heart of the Scottish highlands.

Through the installation of gateways and sensor devices connecting to North’s IoT Scotland network framework, the National Park Authority plus other local land managers will be able to use smart technologies to monitor footfall, route usage and parking.

The network will also be available to local businesses to deploy data gathering sensors, providing them with the opportunity to gain key data findings and insights on how they can further improve their services.

Funded by the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and North, the £6m IoT Scotland network provides the infrastructure for companies and organisations to tap into smart sensor applications.

The proposed footfall and car park sensors will be installed around the Aviemore and Cairngorm region and will connect with the IoT Scotland network through gateways set up at Glenmore Lodge, Ciste, Day Lodge and two buildings in Aviemore.

Using the data from footfall in the area, the National Park Authority and partners will be able to monitor the most popular routes and car parks to ensure they are effectively managed, thereby preventing degradation of the natural surroundings. Sensors will also be used to track real-time data to relieve car park pressures and encourage drivers to reroute to less busy areas.

Alasdair Rettie, Group Technical Director at North, said: “The Pandemic has seen a huge upsurge in people taking up walking and outdoor activities and it is important that data plays a role in monitoring such trends to protect beauty spots, ensuring that we can facilitate tourism in a sustainable way.

“Through the use of our IoT Scotland Network, organisations across the country are able to reap the benefits of smart technology which gives access to data that can shape services and environments to mirror the ever-changing ways in which we live and work.

“We are thrilled to be working with Cairngorm National Park Authority and the land managers on this project, and it is a fantastic example of where technology and nature can come together to conserve our environment while boosting local communities.”

Adam Streeter-Smith, Recreation & Access Manager for CNPA said: “We are excited about the potential of this new network which will allow people to connect sensors to and collect much better data about this important part of the National Park. We are in the process of purchasing path and vehicle counters which will be deployed locally in partnership with local land managers, including Forest and Land Scotland and Cairngorm Mountain. In time, the data collected will help us all build up a much better picture of who uses the area and the peak times for visiting. We will make this information available for others to use so that we can manage the area better.”

IoT Scotland, operated by North provides affordable and accessible connectivity to businesses and organisations across cities, towns and rural areas enabling them to tap into the use of smart sensor applications. Using LoRaWAN technology, the network enables applications and services to collect data from devices and send it without the need for cellular, Wi-Fi or even human involvement, effectively merging the physical and digital worlds.