Responding in Time: IoT Heavy Rainfall Alarm System

Prolonged periods of drought or heavy rainfall that triggers flash floods and flooding are tangible evidence of the effects of climate change. The disastrous high water that took residents of the Ahr and Erft valleys by surprise in the summer of 2021, leaving behind it within minutes a trail of destruction, made it clear that cities, districts and communities must put into practice more effective prevention measures to protect people, the environment, buildings and infrastructures and provide timely warnings of possible catastrophes.

To counteract these extreme weather conditions appropriate heavy rainfall management and comprehensive flood precautions are indispensable. The Internet of Things (IoT) offers the prerequisites for providing them and that is why Herzogenaurach software specialist Spekter and Deutsche Telekom have joined forces to protect cities and local authorities with an innovative heavy rainfall early warning system. Spekter’s IoT sensors continuously measure rainfall and water levels and the self-sustaining data transmission units send readings in real time to the Cloud for monitoring and analysis. If the rainfall increases to an extreme degree and measurements exceed previously specified critical levels a specially developed Spekter app sends warnings to the general public and emergency workers.

Telekom’s NarrowBand IoT (NB-IoT) machine and sensor network delivers reliable and energy-efficient wireless connectivity for level gauges and so-called manhole cover monitors in pipe shafts or especially flooding-prone culverts even in heavy rainfall. Spekter measuring devices are equipped with robust industry-grade SIM cards and LTE-M standard technology ensures continuous transmission of local weather and precipitation data. “We have relied from the outset on Telekom’s network technology for our early warning system. The high level of coverage and the provider’s precise network coverage calculations are decisive for us and our customers where the solution’s reliability is concerned,” says Reinhard Brodrecht, CEO of Spekter GmbH. Comprehensive fallback solutions to all available Telekom network technologies as well as national roaming additionally ensure uninterrupted communication. Real-time analysis of hydrological data by means of artificial intelligence provides local and regional emergency personnel with a precise overview of further developments and the threat level that heavy rainfall poses, gaining valuable time in which to protect the general public and infrastructure.

“In order to inform everyone who is affected and the emergency personnel simultaneously and above all in time we need powerful communication structures. Telekom provides them.”

– Reinhard Brodrecht, Geschäftsführer Spekter GmbH

Interplay of innovative technologies such as IoT, Cloud analysis and AI can help counteract immediate threats posed by extreme weather events and reduce the risk faced by areas affected. It facilitates a proactive response to looming danger and thereby supports the target of a resilient and sustainable future. No wonder that the solution might soon set an example. “We are growing and constantly gaining new customers, both national and international. With Telekom as our technology and sales partner we are optimally positioned. Thanks to LTE-M’s international availability and Telekom’s NB-IoT we have no difficulty in providing our solution flexibly,” Brodrecht says, sounding optimistic about the future.