A team of volunteers is going to set up a free IoT network for Perth. Credit:Tammy Zorde "For people to understand how this is possible, they need to see it in action." We are already seeing IoT devices like smart fridges that tell you when they need refilling, and the City of Joondalup recently announced it will install sensors in a park that send alerts when bins are almost full, tell drivers if there are parking spaces and monitor weather and noise. But the real power of IoT is when huge numbers of assets are linked together, which then allows smart people to figure out ways to use the connections and the information they generate for real world advantage. This wave of technology is already sweeping across the world, but according to Mr Zorde, few companies, communities or individuals in WA know what IoT is or how to use it - and that's going to hold our state back in the coming years unless we catch up.

So to future proof our state, Mr Zorde has launched an effort to create a free Internet of Things network for Perth that will allow people to experience the new tech and figure out new ways to make it work. He put the call out in May for the idea and within forty eight hours a volunteer staff of more than fifty people were on deck to make it happen, with over a thousand now involved in the Internet of Everything Community overall. There are IoT networks in Perth already, but they are mostly for private businesses, and not available to the public. "We're going to build and operate an open, decentralised and free Internet of Things communications network. Run by the community for the community. It will enable the broader Perth community to innovate, learn and demonstrate the value of IoT. "It's difficult for organisations with digital strategies and government agencies with smart city strategies to acquire the mindset shift required to future-proof WA without access to the right people.

"Also with looming job losses from automation, people have to get skilled in fields like IoT fast. Education institutions are not prepared." The Perth IoT Communications Network will draw on technology called LoRa (long range, low power wireless platforms) that sends digital signals out up to fifteen kilometres through wireless gateways, and this information stream can be accessed by IoT capable devices. Partnering with thethingsnetwork.org in Amsterdam, the WA group will put as many LoRa platforms across the city as they can, and support them with as many wireless gateways that can be gathered. Then they'll turn it on and see what happens. The big idea is to allow IoT enthusiasts to work together, share and swap ideas, and generally just see how the technology works in real life. And you never know what kind of breakthroughs this could lead to.

"We are looking for sponsors to help us make this project work as well as possible," Mr Zorde said. Loading "We need tall buildings to put the LoRa platforms on, and we need to get as many as we can together and wireless gateways, so whether it's through financial support or supplying us with the tech we'd love to get as much help as possible." The Perth IoT Communications Network is set to launch in October.