City Life Magazine 34 | Page 59

DIGITAL UTILITY
59

IoT and advanced services for really smart cities . The technology is read

Interview a Vincenzo Quintani , Managing Director , Landis + Gyr

Progress and technological innovation are essential elements of in the action of industrial , economic and , ultimately , social revitalization of a country . Especially if they are aimed at improving and implementing strategic infrastructures and services , as in the case of networks . It is therefore essential that the innovation processes in optics 4.0 also involve the distribution of electricity , gas and water . In this sense , the meter and especially its “ intelligent ” version ( smart , to use a widespread expression ) can initiate a system action and strategies that are able to look at technological development and a integration of advanced networks and services . The evolved and digital counter becomes a focal point or the heart of complex infrastructures whose integrated and efficient management is fundamental for reaching ever smarter urban spaces . And by widening the point of observation we reach the smart mete- ring , as a thought that oversees the counter as a tool and a “ vision ” of a centralized and automated measurement system based on the principle of technological innovation . Indispensable elements in order to create true Smart Cities as a result of a harmonious integration and intelligent use of technologies both in the management and provision of public services and in the realization of the infrastructures necessary for city life . By intelligent meter and possible lines of development in our country , we spoke with Vincenzo Quintani , Managing Director of Landis + Gyr Italia , a multinational company that deals with technological solutions for the management of networks and meters all over the world . How much is Italy ready or willing to introduce new technologies and therefore to revolutionize industrial production or service delivery from this perspective ? Our group is present in over 30 countries , different from each other for technological advancement , strategic approach and the possibility of investing resources . For example , the collaboration between Landis + Gyr and Tokyo Electric Power ( TEPCO ) has led to the creation of the world ’ s largest and most advanced IoT network . In the Japanese capital , more than 10 million smart meters have been installed so far – out of a total of 27 expected – all connected to the network and able to transfer data between devices at a speed of 513 million interval reads per day . Once the project has been completed , the distribution network should be able to manage 6.5 million events ( demand / response ) per hour , as well as transferring more than one billion readings per day from the numerous devices connected to this world ’ s biggest utility Internet of Things . In Italy , however , above all because of a general ( non-specific energy ) regulatory context that greatly increases complexity , we are not yet on the threshold of such a strong transition to the Internet of Things as in Japan or in some cases in the Member States United and Northern Europe .