JenTower strengthens Jena's digital radio network

Jena is pushing ahead with the expansion of its digital infrastructure: two new radio systems (so-called gateways) have been installed high above the roofs of the JenTower. As a result, the special LoRaWAN radio network is now available almost everywhere in the city. A total of 15 systems are now in use in Jena. This creates important conditions for the further development of various smart city applications - especially where sensors collect data without a power connection.

"With the new gateways, we have reached an important milestone: we are creating digital infrastructure that runs in the background - but brings tangible benefits for citizens on the outside. From smart watering of city trees to more efficient processes for emptying waste containers," says Dorothea Prell, overall project manager of Smart City Jena.

LoRaWAN - a wireless network for small sensors with a big impact

LoRaWAN stands for Long Range Wide Area Network and is a wireless network that can transmit data over long distances while consuming very little energy. It is particularly suitable for smart applications in which data is generated and processed via sensors. Typical areas of application include recording soil moisture, weather data, water levels and filling or meter readings. The new systems on the JenTower ensure that this data can now be transmitted reliably throughout almost the whole of Jena.

Concrete applications: from urban greenery to infrastructure

One application that has already been tested is the measurement of soil moisture, a "sensor-supported urban green maintenance" measure as part of the Jena Smart City project. Here, sensor technology helps to control care and irrigation in a more needs-based way - as data-based support in dealing with dry periods and heat waves.

Other fields of application are also in preparation or planned for the future. These include weather stations, fill level sensors for waste bins, measurements of environmental parameters and - for the city center - pedestrian frequency measurements. Where movement data plays a role, the following naturally applies: without any traceable personal reference and in compliance with data protection regulations. It is important to note that no personal data is recorded. Data protection is fully complied with.

Why does the city of Jena use this wireless network?

The city does not collect such data for its own sake. It is intended to be used where it provides a concrete benefit, supports more sustainable decisions and improves everyday processes. For example, urban green irrigation or waste disposal can be better planned in future. The expansion of the wireless network will create a digital infrastructure that will noticeably improve everyday life in Jena - quietly in the background, but with tangible benefits for the city and its residents.