IoT sensors in use – technology for early warning and resource protection

From storm warnings to food preservation: IoT sensors help secure essential living conditions and basic human needs – especially in areas where climate change is already having a full impact and triggering social consequences.

In July 2021, more than 115 litres of rain per square metre fell in three days in Germany’s Ahr valley – twice as much as normally falls in an entire month. The result: over 130 deaths, hundreds injured and more than 3,000 buildings significantly damaged. Researchers concluded that the floods were due to climate change. In addition to climate change, one factor proved fatal – the lack of effective early warning systems that could have enabled timely evacuation.

This is exactly where IoT sensors come in: they continuously measure environmental changes, report critical conditions as real-time data and enable automated responses. Whether it's heavy rain, drought or heat – the more networked the sensor system, the faster and more precisely action can be taken.

By definition, IoT sensors are connected sensors that detect physical parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, movement or light and convert them into digital signals. Using radio standards such as NB-IoT, LoRaWAN or 5G, they transmit the data to a central system, which evaluates it and uses it as a basis to trigger automated processes. So-called IoT sensor nodes enable distributed, smart measurement networks and form the backbone of the Internet of Things (IoT).

A typical IoT sensor node consists of:

• Sensor (data acquisition)
• Microcontroller (data processing)
• Communication module (e.g. NB-IoT or LoRa)
• Power supply (e.g. battery or solar)

This combination makes sensors intelligent and connected – the foundation for data-driven processes in the IoT and the technical basis for enabling precise measuring devices to reliably collect and transmit their data.

IoT sensors are available in a wide range of versions as different sensor types – depending on the measurement variable, area of application and transmission technology. Some types have proven particularly effective in practice:

• IoT temperature sensors: Record temperature trends, e.g. in cold chains, buildings or industrial facilities.  
• Humidity sensors: Essential for IoT sensors in agriculture to monitor soil moisture.  
• Motion and presence sensors: In smart buildings or security applications.  
• Air quality sensors: Monitor CO₂, fine dust or VOCs in indoor spaces.  
• LoRa sensors: Particularly energy-efficient and suitable for long distances.  
• IoT sensor actuators: Combined units in which sensors collect data and actuators (e.g. pumps, heating systems) react automatically.

To ensure that IoT sensors reliably deliver data and trigger automated processes, they always follow the same technical process:

1. The sensor records environmental parameters.  
2. A microcontroller processes the raw data.  
3. The data is transmitted to a platform via NB-IoT, LoRa, WLAN or 5G.  
4. Analysis then takes place (e.g. for forecasting, alerting or control).

A typical example of this process can be seen in disaster control: an IoT sensor with an integrated Telekom SIM card, attached to a riverbank or building, is able to detect when a threshold value has been exceeded. It sends the digital measurement data in next to no time via an LTE-M or 5G network to an online platform, which analyses the data and sends an alert. Is the water level rising too quickly? Is there a threat of flooding in entire residential areas? In the best-case scenario, such dangers can be detected early enough for local authorities and enterprises to take predictive action and protect the public by means of appropriate countermeasures, up to and including evacuation.

IoT sensors are used in numerous sectors – from industrial facilities to agriculture and urban infrastructure. Depending on the application, they provide the foundation for efficiency, safety and sustainability.

IoT sensors in industry: In industrial settings, IoT sensors are used for predictive maintenance, quality control, energy optimisation and safety monitoring.

IoT sensors in agriculture: LoRa sensors or NB-IoT sensors are used in agriculture, for example in fields or greenhouses. There, they measure key environmental data such as soil moisture, solar radiation, temperature and humidity in order to precisely manage irrigation and resource consumption.

The IoT solution, developed by the company Hidroconta and equipped with embedded connectivity from Telekom, automatically and regularly transmits information about water consumption via NB-IoT to a cloud platform. Agricultural businesses can then set individual irrigation schedules in order to use the resource sustainably and avoid waste.

Smart cities and disaster prevention: IoT sensors are used in urban areas and high-risk regions to detect critical environmental changes at an early stage. Even the smallest variations can trigger warnings via app – for instance, of flooding, storms or wildfires during dry periods. In networked cities, they contribute to the safety of the population and enable proactive crisis management.

For example, Deutsche Telekom and divirod regularly collect global water data from lakes, rivers, coasts and roofs, for example, to predict the risk of flooding or collapsing roofs due to snow or ice. Enterprises can purchase this data on a Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) basis as a precautionary measure.

This shows that using IoT applications for disaster control can improve the efficacy of alarm systems significantly. Since 1970 early warning systems have reduced the number of fatalities dramatically. In 2019 on an annual average, fewer than half as many people died in natural disasters than 50 years earlier, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

IoT sensors in food and cold chain logistics: IoT temperature sensors ensure that the transport of chilled goods such as meat, fruit or medicines is consistently monitored. If the temperature deviates, an alarm is triggered automatically.

According to WWF, up to 40 percent of the world’s food output is wasted today (as of 2021). To keep fruit, vegetables, dairy products and meat fresh for as long as possible and prevent premature spoilage, transport and storage under stable conditions are essential. Tracking sensors help here: they monitor the cold chain and provide reliable alerts before the quality of goods deteriorates. Staff can then intervene early and adjust the temperature, for example. In this way, supermarkets throw away seven per cent less food – saving tons of valuable produce each year in Germany alone.

Whether LoRa sensors, NB-IoT sensors or combined IoT sensor-actuator systems – the possible applications are as diverse as the social challenges. Those who adopt the right technology early not only protect people and resources, but also open up new business opportunities.

At the same time, IoT sensor technology provides the basis for data-driven decision-making in virtually all areas – from urban planning to crisis prevention – and is becoming a key tool for building a resilient and sustainable future.