Wednesday, June 21st, eSmart Systems and Telenor hosted a digitalization seminar at Remmen Business Park in Halden. Representatives from many of the municipalities in the Østfold region were present to learn about which possibilities lie within a smart utilization of data.
Municipalities own vast amounts of data, but do they optimize the use of these data? At the Smart Municipality Digitalization Seminar, representatives from Hvaler, Rygge, Halden, Fredrikstad, Rømskog, Råde, Sarpsborg and Vestby Municipality, as well as the Hospital Østfold and the Østfold county council, listened to eSmart Systems’ and Telenor’s visions regarding tools for becoming a smart and digital municipality.
The municipalities themselves also shared their experiences regarding their Smart City; Hvaler municipality presented new and innovative services where they utilize solar power and generate smart services regarding water supply. Sarpsborg Municipality gave an interesting introduction to their efforts in healthcare technology, and how they now have a more efficient and cost-effective value chain by using technology.
Halden municipality talked about their visions of becoming a smart city and used their innovative services within renovation and healthcare to prove that they are well on their way.
DISCUSSIONS: Representatives from Telenor, eSmart Systems and various municipalities in Østfold, discussed opportunities for digitalization – both from stage and during breaks.
The world is never going to be the same again – luckily! The need for sustainability demands the ability to change, and even though it is hard, we are going to take part in this change
Attractive Municipalities
The Ministry of Local Government and Modernization advises all Norwegian municipalities to use cloud-based services, which was quite unthinkable only a few years ago.
About 70 percent of those at the age of 60 or older, thought the same when it comes to healthcare. These surveys prove that the adaption of technology to improve public services have come a long way in only a few years.
Looking for Gold
Elisabeth Karlsen, Head of Products in eSmart Systems, enthusiastically tells us:
Data is actually quite sexy! You have to start looking for new gold in your existing data. I am sure you will get valuable insight and see new relations that you did not know existed. How can you set your climate goals for the future if you lack insight about the present situation?
ENGAGED: Elisabeth Karlsen from eSmart Systems spoke of the importance of gaining insight from the data one collects.
She presented that data analysis through machine learning and predictive models are excellent tools to achieve better insight and decisions. For example, it could predict air pollution, traffic jams or slippery roads, based on various parameters and data sources. These results can then be presented to desired channel surfaces and prevent unpleasant or potentially dangerous events for the population.
– Involving the citizens and employees have never been easier, Karlsen says.
– What is important to our inhabitants, is important to us, says Velvestad.
eSmart Systems is actively working to strengthen the company’s position both nationally and globally. In August, our first office in Oslo was opened.
eSmart Systems is rapidly expanding and we look forward to being permanently established in Oslo. This will make the work situation more effective, both for our own employees, our customers and our partners
The Oslo office will be the second office in Norway – the headquarters in Halden as the first. In addition to this, eSmart Systems has offices in Germany, UK, US, Asia, Demark and quite recently also Sweden.
The new office space of eSmart Systems is located in Dronning Eufemias gate (the Visma building) at Barcode in Oslo.
Read also: eSmart Systems to Open Office in North Dakota
See also: Open positions
eSmart Systems participated in a commercial, research and innovation delegation visit to India 6.-10.2.17, hosted by NCE Smart Energy Markets and Innovation Norway’s office in New Delhi.
The goal of this visit were to develop business and research cooperation with Indian energy industry andgovernmental organizations. One of the hosts for the visit was Powergrid Corporation of India, one of the world’s largest grid companies, which NCE Smart Energy Markets signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with.
During the delegation visit, eSmart Systems also participated in a match-making workshop organized by RCN, Innovation Norway, Royal Norwegian Embassy, DST and IIT Delhi. As part of the workshop a joint call on industrial research within the field of Renewable Energy were presented.
The objectives of the workshop were:
- To allow Indian and Norwegian partners from industry and academia to meet and exchange ideas for future development
- To form partnerships for joint projects to be submitted to the call
Participants:
- Norwegian industrial partners
- Indian industrial partners
- Norwegian research/academic partners
- Indian research/academic partners
- Organizing institutions: RCN, Innovation Norway, Royal Norwegian Embassy, DST, IIT Delhi
Norgesnett and eSmart Systems have signed an agreement for the delivery of Connected Grid.
After a two and half year industrial research and development program to develop eSmart Systems’ Connected Grid, Norgesnett is now live. The IRD project has been a collaboration between Norgesnett, Sogn og Fjordane Energi, Glitre Energi Nett, Ringeriks-Kraftnett and eSmart Systems. Program funding was contributed by Innovation Norway.
Connected Grid is Norgesnett’s core system for AMI reading and management.
What’s most exciting with this platform is its capacity to perform advanced analytics on large volumes of data in real time through its use of machine learning and cloud-based computing power
Connected Grid is an intelligent top system that provides utility companies decision support for optimal operation, maintenance and planning of grids. The system collects data from internal and external sources, perform real-time analysis, and visualize data in dashboards designed for smarter, faster and better decisions.
We are very pleased that one of the most forward-leaning and innovative grid operators in Norway decide to go in operative use with Connected Grid. This will bring results in terms of reduced costs, increased efficiency and most importantly, a better service
We are only in the starting blocks of tremendous changes ahead. Over the next few years we’ll see major changes in how power grids are managed and operated. Connected Grid is Norgesnett’s most important digital investment in its bid to realize a truly smart grid
Thursday June 1st, eSmart Systems hosted the most important arrangement in the company’s history so far. The Connected Drone Launch brought 120 customers and partners to Halden, reached over 21.000 people by live stream and was broadcasted on the radio in Fargo, USA.
Grid operators, partners and customers from all over Norway were invited for the big happening at Remmen Business Park in Halden June 1st. 2017. Interested parties from Germany, Denmark and Sweden were also represented.
The day offered major demonstrations, presentations and surprises.
eSmart Systems’ R&D project Connected Drone started in January 2016, with a planned duration of three years. Up until now, it has “only” been a project, but with the launch on Thursday 1st., Connected Drone is also hitting the market as a product ready for use.
This is the most important arrangement in eSmart Systems’ history. We want to communicate to the world that we now have a product which can totally change the way one uses inspection data
The project goal is to make power line inspections safer and less expensive, by taking advantage of drones equipped with Artificial Intelligence
World Wide Launch
The Connected Drone launch was not limited to concern only Norwegian and European participants. Representatives from eSmart Systems were also launching Connected Drone in Fargo, USA, at the very same time as in Halden. As in Halden, this was a great success. See the product launch video here:
Revolutionizing Grid Operations
eSmart Systems’ drone project is revolutionary – never before has there been anything like this software available on the market.
What makes the project unique, is that we use such a diversity of new technology, that has to be able to function together in ways it has never done earlier
Lie says
This summer’s launch is just the beginning of eSmart Systems’ drone adventure. For even though the project has now resulted in a product, the research and development of new and better solutions continues.
We have proved we can fly drones. We can fly them far and we can provide and analyze amounts of data that previously would take one person a year – in less than an hour. All because of an Artificial Intelligence we are continuously making smarter; Which in itself is quite sensational
says Lie
With many of the most important actors in Scandinavia present at the launch in Halden, the Project Manager hopes soon to be able to take Connected Drone even further.
Good to Go
And just as Tore Lie had hoped for, the second phase of the Connected Drone project was approved by the project’s management group no more than 12 hours after the launch of June 1st.
Our team has worked intensively towards the launch and they have all been amazing. All grid companies have expressed they were greatly impressed. A “thumbs up” for further development of Connected Drone was great and extremely important!
Parts of this article is taken from NCE:Smart Innovation Norway.
ASKO Vestby has chosen eSmart Systems and Connected Building as their solution to gain improved overview of energy production and consumption factors.
ASKO will use these insights to reduce energy costs through power management by better controlling, among other things, effects on joint tariff contracts, ensuring the most use of solar power production in their own plants, and exploiting market price differences. This will be achieved by collecting real-time values into eSmart Systems’ platform, presenting overviews in dashboards and eventually using big data analytics and optimization for advanced decision support.
Ambitious climate targets
By 2020, ASKO aims to reduce energy consumption of their properties by 20% and to source 100% of its energy requirements from renewables. At the same time, all transport vehicles will run on renewable fuels.
ASKO’s Vestby plant is a giant grocery logistics facility. Underway is a large-scale placement of roof solar cells, which will be completed in the spring of 2017 making ASKO Vestby Norway’s largest solar power plant.
The agreement between the companies is twofold consisting of a pilot project and a proof-of-concept.
ASKO is a very assertive and innovative company that takes the green shift seriously. It’s through such demanding customers that eSmart Systems verifies and further develops our solutions. We are therefore very pleased to have secured this agreement
The project commences in January 2017.