Smart International Hellenic University

Application of ICT Systems for Sustainable Growth,

Energy Efficiency and Better Quality of Life

In this section:

1. Introduction
2. System Architecture
3. Research Subjects

1. Introduction

The International Hellenic University (IHU) is carrying out a technological research project entitled ‘Smart International Hellenic University’ in the field of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for sustainable growth, energy efficiency and better quality of life. This is an area of research and development included in the Strategic Research Agenda of the European Union (EU). The aim is to transform the IHU to a ‘Smart’ University with automated processes, enabling Smart Building-Smart-Grid technology, i.e., remote monitoring and management, energy efficiency, and providing support for educational activities, an initiative which will find reflection in the e-learning provisions offered by IHU. The outcomes of the Smart IHU project are expected to support MSc theses and scientific publications in the domain of wireless sensor networks, decision support systems, web services, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources.

The Smart IHU project is based on the cooperation of the ICT and Energy departments of the School of Science and Technology of the International Hellenic University, helping to forge a strong interdisciplinary research team which will undertake modern and challenging activities.

The project incorporates the following research directions:

1. Deployment of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for remote monitoring and Management. Wireless platforms of ZigBee, WiFi and RFiD are mainly considered.

2. Integration of the wireless platforms using Semantic Web Services.

3. Application of the WSNs for power consumption monitoring, Energy Efficiency, management, Optimization and Automation.

4. On line data presentation for e-Learning.

5. Green IT. Use of WSN power consumption network for energy efficiency estimation of the IT equipment of the University (Desktops, IHU Data Center).

6. Support of Smart Building-Smart Grid technologies for network building equipments, remote monitoring, low energy consumption and penetration of renewable energy sources.

7. Development of sophisticated computer algorithms for efficient operation. Application of Optimization techniques and synthesis of a Decision Support Systems (DSS).

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2. System Architecture

The ‘Smart IHU’ system is presented in the following figure. The system incorporates various wireless networks and integration platforms providing remote monitoring and management of the campus. The elements of the systems are

• WiFi Network
• ZigBee sensors and network
• RFiD tags and readers
• PC Agent
• Semantic Web Services Middleware for system integration
• Smart Meters
• Server
• User Interface and PDA data presentation
• Data Center for Green IT computations
• Gateways
• Renewable Energy Sources (RES), mainly solar.

The operational layers of the system are

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3. Research Subjects

Sensor Networks

A wide research area arising from this project refers to the development of sensor networks for remote monitoring. The work focuses on

1. Sensors available on the market for power consumption monitoring, Smart Metering, smoke detection, light intensity, temperature, cameras, movement detection, RFiD tags.

2. Radio Coverage requirements and Network planning

3. Communication Protocol investigation and extension

4. Middleware development based on Semantic Web Services.

Power Consumption Monitoring and Green IT

Remote monitoring of power consumption at high resolution within the building has attracted a lot of research under the research umbrella of Smart Building Smart Grid technologies. The Smart IHU project enables “on-line-in-real-time” power consumption monitoring via the ZigBee Smart Energy network. The system architecture for power consumption monitoring follows the procedures of HYDRA, DEHEMS and BeyWatch FP7 research projects. The deployed sensor network will also support the Green IT operation and energy efficiency estimation of the IHU’s IT equipment and Data Center. The Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency (DCiE) and the Data Center Energy Productivity (DCeP) indices proposed by the Green Grid Association will be determined. The system model is presented in the following figure

The investigation incorporates the following scientific domains

Smart Library

The library of the International Hellenic University will be equipped with an RFiD network to enable automated information to the students. The system will be extended in the future to other activities. The investigation incorporates the following domains:

1. Available products for RFiD systems.

2. Optimization of Reader positions for low-cost network deployment and detection accuracy using sophisticated radio coverage codes.

3. Data processing and optimization.

Algorithms

The Smart IHU project requires the development and application of sophisticated computer algorithms for decision making, optimization and automation. The main areas of algorithms development are:

1. Data processing and time series analysis

2. Optimization of the use of resources

3. Optimization for energy efficiency within the building

4. Green IT operation

5. Decision Support Systems

6. Middleware programming

7. Algorithms for automation.

Renewable Energy Sources

A crucial factor for the green operation of the university installations is the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). The high resolution power consumption monitoring data, retrieved by the ZigBee Smart Energy wireless network, enable the in-depth analysis of the power requirements of the building. The research activities in this domain are:

1. Real-time observation of the most energy-demanding operations of the university and optimization of the combined energy sources scheme supporting the university’s activities

2. Investigation of the possibility for partial substitution of conventional energy sources with renewable energy sources (RES) in the system.