@boon @SureshAyyavoo @flavio
OK wonderful! Smart Water measurement this thread has a good discussion on these topics, it would be good if we could collectively continue down the path of this discovery. Following up on that, I am becoming more attracted to the idea of computer vision detections. My concern with drone investments is the rate of technical acceleration, the rate of miniaturization and the component prices of sensors et’all are also shrinking. It’s makes us need to think hard. Lets say today you begin a long pitch for drones through the gatekeepers… it’s very likely by current technology trends that by the time you were ready to sign the papers… the pricing and the plan itself will likely look uncompetitive and outdated by new alternatives. Or shortly will become so, it’s not so easy to reiterate a fleet of drones, maintenance programs and control systems than it is to do an OTO update to all the inexpensive ‘maintenance free’ (multi-sensor) optic devices around the city. I do see drones working in this environment, just not exclusively.
My thoughts on air pollution detection is, yes, but it does not solve any problems really, it sounds good, but time maybe better spent where you can make more of a positive effect? We know when it’s hazy, we know the seasons, we get the warnings and they already measure it and it mostly comes from Indonesia. I do agree there are improvements to be had here but they can do little to effect any changes. However flood monitoring is something that you certainly could save lives with. There are certain problem areas, related to blocked drain-ways these can be monitored to remain obstruction free and can be monitored for rising waters (with the exact same optic devices you use for the dengue problem, detection patterns are OTA updated and self refining). Advance notice is the biggest issues with floods, there is really no reason why Malaysia should not have better systems for this already, again we know where it happens, under what conditions it happens and who is at risk.
Another one that is absolutely insanely frustrating is the poor water services, this is a challenge for many cities and towns. There is inadequate monitoring, inadequate notice given of planned or known supply disruptions or water use conservation actions… it’s honestly a ridiculous situation. I went 2 weeks without water in Damansara! I lived in a Pehang where we were lucky to average water supply about 4 or 5 days a week over a year and a half I was there, and everyone thought it was just normal. Consider this, In Canada, where I grew up, the ground freezes to about 6ft deep. If a pipe anywhere with water in it freezes, it will burst the pipe, even if copper. I asked my Dad about how often he went without water supply, he said in 40 years, he never experienced a day without water. This is largely solvable in Malaysia.
Monitoring for supply should be easy, perhaps small devices that can be stuck to certain supply lines and junctions that passively (magnetic resonance or ultrasound or something) can detect if a pipe has lost water. Problem is, no one likes to talk about the water supply problem, especially those responsible, if they say ‘solution’ they infer there is a problem, and they don’t like to admit that, that’s part of why nothing improves. When we go forward with ideas to improve things for people with technology, we often realize they are most often people problems that technology can not immediately effect. I don’t say this to suggest you are not aware, nor is this situation in anyway exclusive to Malaysia… but now perhaps is an appropriate time to keep it in mind.
Another good approach it to the Uni and college Campus my wife has this idea and as a former teacher has contacts and perhaps this is something we can collaborate on as well. Will see if she moves on it and let you know.
The last thing I wanted to mention is in regards to KL, SG TTN, we could collaborate and produce some standard collateral such as a press kit, nothing big and corporate just professional borrowing from what already exists at TTN, ready to send to anyone, leveraging the TTN brand identity as a benefit and the alliance between SG and MY /TTN and we cover what you do and what you want to do, how you do it and who you are looking for (initiators other cities , developers, social media advocates etc…). And we do the same?
Cheers.