Summary of digital environmental measurement needs in industrial areas

The TAKOMO project promotes awareness and adoption of environmental monitoring based on sensor networks and IoT technologies. The project implements and develops real-time, continuous environmental monitoring solutions in a pilot area in the Kokkola Industrial Park.

In the initial phase of the project, the digital environmental measurement needs of the Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP) were mapped by interviewing operators in the area. A total of eight parties participated in the interviews, representing six companies or associations operating in the industrial area and two government organizations.

At the same time, the measurement needs related to outdoor dust were surveyed (DustSense project). In addition to the interviews, the needs related to digital environmental measurements were surveyed at a stakeholder event.

Noise measurement

Continuous digital noise measurement emerged as a significant topic of interest in the interviews. Organizations participating in joint noise monitoring in the KIP area measure noise together every five years in accordance with environmental permit requirements. The noise in the area is measured over a short period from 6-7 points, on the basis of which a consultant prepares a noise model for the area. The interviewees were interested in the project's digital noise measurements due to the denser measurement point network and their continuous operation. It was hoped that the measurements carried out in the project would support the official measurements. It was hoped that noise meters would be placed on the edges of the industrial area, in the direction of residential areas and along roads leading away from the industrial area.

Weather conditions

The KIP industrial area is located right by the sea, which means that weather conditions (e.g., wind direction and strength) play a significant role in the transport of emissions. Measuring weather conditions was of interest to both industrial operators and regulatory organizations. It is known that wind direction changes between industrial plants. This is important from a safety perspective in accident situations, as well as for the transport of emissions and the reliability of environmental measurements. Weather conditions also play a major role in the noise measurements carried out in the project in terms of measurement reliability and sound transport. It was agreed that wind direction and speed measurements would be installed at each dust and noise measurement point.

Groundwater measurements

Groundwater measurements were of interest to several interviewees. Measuring groundwater levels has become a topic of interest due to the intense construction activity in the KIP area. In addition, there was a desire to measure the electrical conductivity of two wells located near the shore to indicate a possible rise in seawater in the pipes. The flow and discharge directions of groundwater were also of particular interest, especially as the area is being expanded towards the sea and watertight structures are being built on the expanding shore area.

Gas measurements

Some of the interviewees were interested in the continuous measurement of gaseous substances. Of particular interest in terms of gaseous environmental measurements were sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide present in the area, as well as the measurement of ammonia and chlorine from a safety perspective. Industrial operators measure exhaust gas emissions in accordance with permit requirements, and there is a municipal air quality monitoring station located near the industrial area. However, neither approach provides continuous real-time information to operators in the industrial area.

Measuring snow depth

One of the people we talked to brought up how important it is to measure snow depth. Kokkola Industrial Park is a huge place where winter maintenance and snow plowing happen. Continuous measurement of snow depth and digital data transfer would make it easier to identify the need for snow plowing.

Base stations

In order to carry out digital measurements, a functioning data transfer system is required. The measurement network designed for the project will mainly use the LoRaWan (Long Range Wide Area Network) radio network for data transfer. This means that base stations enabling data transfer must be placed at regular intervals in the KIP area. The base stations and their locations were also discussed during the interviews.

Based on the environmental measurement needs, interesting pilot solutions, and suitable installation locations that emerged during the interviews, a preliminary measurement network map was drawn up, which the project aims to implement.