🌿 Smart Sensing of Temperature & Humidity with BLE Umbrella Coverage

⚡ The Legacy Solution

When you are required to install many (T/H) sensors in big areas comprising stores, hangars, storage area, cold rooms, and working area. A smart solution other than the legacy wired method is needed.

The use of wired sensors is not anymore appropriate in such places where installation work is required (drilling, dust, laying of wires…). Besides, it is highly likely that sensors might be required to be relocated from one point to another.

⚡ AFKAR DIGITAL Smart Solution

AFKAR DIGITAL has developed its own smart sensing solution that is dynamic and optimized for such places, by using Smart Sensing with BLE Wireless Technology

The solution implies BLE Sensors and BLE Gateways along with Software Platform:

• The Sensors, which in this case are BLE Temperature and Humidity Sensors (T/H), are located without the need for wires, no extra installation work like drilling, and avoiding dust in sensitive areas like medicine factories/cold rooms.
• The battery of the BLE sensors can last for more than 3 years, so replacing batteries is not considered a headache at all.
• The Gateways form a sort of BLE Coverage Umbrellas of radius 50~100m in open spaces, thus any sensor within the coverage BLE Umbrella is picked by the GW.
• BLE Sensors broadcast T/H data over BLE which in turn picked by any nearby Gateway
• Apparently, a sensor broadcasted BLE data might be picked by more than one Gateway which forms a sort of desired redundancy for Critical Mission Facilities.
• Gateways received the BLE measurement data from sensors, and in turn, forward them to the Software Platform over the network.
• In case no network connection is available, the gateway works as a logger and can store sensors data for days and months.
• The Software Platform is responsible for Monitoring and Alerting when abnormality is triggered.

When a sensor is required to be relocated, simply it is moved to the new location and its name on the software platform is updated. No extra reconfiguration work is needed.

The system is a state-of-the-Art offering: protected sensors with passwords, long battery lifetime for sensors, sensors & Gateway redundancy whenever required, dynamic relocation of sensors, high accurate sensors with Long-term drift being <0.03°C/year, the overall solution is FDA 21 Part11 Compliant. And finally, ease of installation: No Drilling, No Dust, No Wires

 
 
 
   

Reasons of Energy Waste in Cooling Systems
Uncovering Hidden Inefficiencies in Temperature-Controlled Cold Environments

أسباب هدر الطاقة في أنظمة التبريد
كشف أسباب القصور الخفية في البيئات الباردة ذات التحكم الحراري

Objective: Minimize Energy Waste and Cut Operational Costs

Deploy smart sensing technology to dynamically regulate cooling based on actual needs across various zones.

Leverage Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for remote monitoring and rapid issue resolution.

Unlike conventional approaches, the combination of Smart Sensing and IoT enables the detection of hidden inefficiencies, such as:

   

Examples of Energy Waste in Cooling Systems
أمثلة على هدر الطاقة في أنظمة التبريد

Hot Summer revealed the reduced Cooling System Efficiency in a Data Center [May 2020]

This temperature pattern appeared during hot summer and revealed the reduced efficiency of AC Split Units in a Data Center room.
The temperature rise was due to the inefficient thermal isolation of the room and possibly the increased IT load.
The temperature, which clearly increased, was measured at the front of the cabinets to show the actual temperature flowing into the servers. This is indeed better than having few probes hanged from the ceiling (as seen sometimes!) measuring average temperature in the room.

الصيف الحار أظهر إنخفاض كفاءة نظام التبريد في أحد مراكز البيانات [أيار 2020]

نمط درجة الحرارة هذا ظهر خلال الصيف الحار وكشف عن إنخفاض كفاءة التبريد لوحدات تكييف الهواء في غرفة مركز بيانات أحد العملاء.

إرتفاع درجة الحرارة كان نتيجة لقلة كفاءة العزل الحراري للغرفة وربما أيضاً بسبب زيادة الضَّغط على الخوادم.

تم قياس درجة الحرارة، والتي إرتفعت بشكل واضح خلال هذا الوقت، على مقدمة الكبائن لإظهار درجة الحرارة الفعليَّة المتدفِّقة داخل الخوادم. وهذا في الواقع أفضل من إستخدام عدد أقل من حسَّاسات الحرارة المُعلَّقة من السَّقف (كما نُشاهد في بعض الأحيان!) والتي تقيس متوسِّط ​​درجة الحرارة في الغرفة.

 

   

showcase-01: Switching OFF A/C Units Outside Working Hours

In a standard office setup equipped with 5 ducted split air conditioning units, cooling was only required during official working hours. However, the units were previously left running continuously - even during nights and weekends - leading to unnecessary energy consumption and inflated electricity bills.

By implementing smart control to ensure the A/C units operate only when needed, the monthly savings reached approximately **JD1200 (~$1700).

 

Showcase-02: Smart Temperature-Controlled A/C in a Typical Storage Room

During the winter season, a wireless temperature sensor was used to automate the operation of a heating-mode air conditioner. The system was configured to:
** Activate heating: when the temperature drops below 17°C
** Deactivate heating: when the temperature exceeds 19°C

This setup ensures the A/C unit remains off when the room temperature stays within the desired range, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

Estimated monthly savings: ~JD75 (~$100)

 

Showcase-03: Automatically Switching Off A/C Units in Unoccupied Offices

Significant energy savings were achieved by implementing automated checks to identify and shut down air conditioning units in offices that are not in use. These checks begin daily after 4:00 PM and run at two-hour intervals.

Previously, A/C units were often left running unnecessarily, consuming electricity without benefit.

Estimated monthly savings: ~JD20 (~$30)

 

Showcase-04: Managing A/C Usage in Open Spaces

Open areas often lack proper control over air conditioning systems, leading to continuous operation and unnecessary energy consumption. By implementing smart management strategies, A/C units in these spaces can be monitored and regulated effectively.

This approach prevents wasted electricity and ensures cooling is only active when truly needed.

Estimated monthly savings: ~JD80 (~$120)

 

Showcase-05: Scheduled Shutdown of A/C Units During Night Shifts

This example highlights automated scheduling for a single zone containing approximately 15 air conditioning units. Since night shift hours vary across offices, the system performs automatic checks every two hours to detect vacant offices.

When staff leave, the corresponding A/C units are switched off, while units in occupied offices continue operating as needed.

Estimated monthly savings: ~JD300 (~$450)

 

Showcase-06: Integrating Human Presence Detection with A/C Control Systems

This example showcases an advanced approach to automating air conditioning based on actual human presence in office spaces.

Unlike conventional IR or ultrasonic motion sensors — which may inaccurately report absence when occupants are stationary — the human presence detector reliably identifies individuals even when they are seated or inactive.

Sensor data clearly reflects occupancy levels, averaging below 50%, allowing the system to deactivate A/C units in unoccupied areas with precision.

The correlation between presence detection and energy savings is remarkable.

Estimated overall savings: 30% to 70%, depending on office usage patterns.

   

   

   

Showcase 07: Identifying Cooling Irregularities During Data Center Audit

This example highlights a data center audit revealing non-uniform cooling patterns, as detected by temperature sensors installed at the front of server cabinets. The readings clearly show significant temperature variations across different cabinets.

The audit was conducted using AFKAR DIGITAL Data Center Optimization Tool, which leverages smart wireless BLE sensors and gateways. One of its standout features is the ability to replay historical temperature data, offering deeper insights for analysis.

The root cause of the cooling imbalance can be investigated further. Potential factors include airflow obstructions beneath the raised floor or a malfunction in the CRAC (Computer Room Air Conditioning) system.