Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, located in the heart of the Montérégie region, wants to move towards the concept of a smart city, much like other municipalities. Following a call for tenders duly carried out by the city, Videotron Business and its long-standing partner X-TELIA were able to demonstrate their expertise in deploying new technological solutions in this municipality, where the charm of nature meets the hustle and bustle of the city.
The context
Connected to major highways, such as Highways 30 and 20 and Route 116, the city of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville now has nearly 27,000 residents. This exceptional living environment covers an area of 43 km², 17% of which features woodland and green spaces. The municipality wishes to continue its efforts to ensure the greater good of all Montarvillians.
The city therefore uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) to improve the quality of services offered to citizens. In particular, residents can apply for a permit online, access the extensive Wi-Fi network in all parks and public spaces, as well as consult their tax bill and register for sports and cultural activities online.
The city of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville was curious to know what other technological solutions are available to accelerate their ongoing digital transition. Videotron Business was selected, well supported by X-TELIA, which specializes in the Internet of Things (IoT), more specifically in solutions based on LoRa technology and its LoRaWAN communication protocol.
Needs analysis
The Engineering and Special Projects Department of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville was looking for an optimal solution to remotely read and monitor water meters.
Like all municipalities in Québec, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville must comply with the Stratégie québécoise d’économie d’eau potable adopted by the Government of Québec. At the request of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, it was necessary to install a certain number of water meters in the residential sector to obtain a clearer picture of the territory's consumption and optimize the use of this resource.
Videotron Business was, in a way, the conductor of this mandate. "The city already had its own mobile network. In addition, instead of using our own infrastructure, we chose the LoRaWAN infrastructure, implemented by X-TELIA, which develops and implements this type of solution. This choice made it possible to better meet the customer's needs: six gateways were installed to cover the entire territory," explains Francis Miron Diaz, Account Manager for Videotron Business.
The solutions deployed
1. Remote reading of water meters
The multiple fields of application of the Internet of Things (IoT) certainly facilitate the achievement of greater efficiency of connected municipalities. In the case of Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, the objective was to obtain a clear and concise picture of the territory's water consumption and to optimize its use. "Geographical maps show the exact location of the sensors in the city and the data is transmitted in real time," says Francis Miron Diaz.
A wide range of sensors are available through a centralized platform and serve to collect, analyze, store, and transmit information useful for decision-making. The solutions provided by X-TELIA allow the city to go even further.
Water flow or pressure sensors monitor the health of the city's water and sewer system. The data obtained facilitates the identification and prevention of leaks and is also useful for quickly patching a potential problem in the network.
As evidenced by headlines in recent weeks, municipalities must also consider implementing measures to reduce the risk of flooding. To this end, sensors notify work crews as soon as the water level of a river reaches a critical threshold, allowing them to intervene in a timely manner!
2. Automating certain functions of a park chalet
Some types of sensors allow municipalities to lock park chalets and public washrooms after hours, to limit the theft and vandalism that occasionally occur in such areas. "One of the park chalets in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville now has sensors for the locks, temperature management, and lighting," explains Francis Miron Diaz.
A winning partnership
Although it is a little early to assess the positive impact of these two projects currently being deployed, one thing remains clear: Videotron Business and the account manager assigned to the project offer essential support and unwavering commitment. The customer attests to the fact that Francis was always attentive, available, and involved, highlighting just how committed he was to making Videotron’s Internet service available at the park's chalet in question.
For Francis Miron Diaz, it is the very nature of his role that allows him to forge a lasting relationship with the various stakeholders involved in this type of project. "I make sure I know my client well in order to offer them a tailor-made approach. And the entire Videotron Business team has the same goal; everyone is committed to ensuring the success of the operation," he concludes.
Learn more
City decision-makers who want to adopt certain smart city features should look to a trusted partner for sound advice.
The close collaboration between Videotron Business and X-TELIA makes it possible to offer a wide range of technological solutions—remote reading of water meters, flood monitoring, intelligent waste management, and optimization of fleet management, for example—allowing you to build your city of tomorrow, today.
And because a successful smart city must imperatively place its citizens at the heart of it all, it is better to call on suppliers who have already proven their worth.
Contact us today!
November 2024, By Videotron Business
