Smart City projects

Artificial light disorientates turtles and hatchlings during turtle nesting season. A dual LED light that is motion activated and changes from the standard white to red colour for turtle nesting season has been installed at Buddina. It is activated when people approach the light and times out when no longer required. This reduces artificial light at night, settings are amended remotely, reduces electricity costs and keeps our turtles safer.

A pilot program in Woombye is using sensors to collect data about people movement, water use and ambient temperature.

This will help council plan better facilities and services for the community using data driven decision making.

Street poles have evolved over the years from the jumble of wires and lights to multi-function poles. These can be fitted with WiFi, environmental sensors, people and vehicle counters, digital signage, LED lights and optic fibre cable. This removes the need for other poles and signs.

Council has already deployed over 350 multi-function poles in eight locations. This includes 60 wirelessly connected street lights in the new Maroochydore City Centre. These lights brighten and dim when people walk past.   

Our population and built environment is increasing the use of concrete and asphalt (heat absorbing) at the expense of cooling vegetation.  This means urban heat is a significant issue for council to manage.

Fifty ambient temperature sensors have been installed across the Sunshine Coast. They collect real-time information about temperature and humidity to help council improve future design decisions and over the longer term, climate change policy decisions.

Thermal images provide real-time data about surface temperatures of different materials. Capturing comparisons (eg between asphalt, concrete, grass, canopy, shaded locations) can help council to better plan and design public areas using material and colours to enhance cooler spaces.

Thermal image data is being trialled with several other sensors and devices in the Woombye pilot sensor program. It has been used to assist council with its decision-making process for the Nambour forecourt.

Council's automatic irrigation systems contain sensors that track rainfall and use weather forecast to suspend irrigation. Flow meters identify problems and leaks early to help save unintended waste of water.

There are 32 sites operating the smart irrigation system including the entrance to the new Maroochydore City Centre, Happy Valley, Felicity Park in Caloundra and Palmwoods Picabeen Green. Around 70 sites are likely to have automated irrigation systems installed over the next 10 years.

Sensors measure waste levels and send alerts if a bin is full or still empty.  This helps council deliver more cost-effective waste management services.

There are approximately 45 sensors which inform the deployment schedule for several areas in the region.

Sensors in the ground and in rivers monitor water levels. Alerts are sent to council officers when roads, bridges and waterways are about to flood. Information about closures is available on the SCC app.

Monitor how many people use public areas, eg parks and walking trails, allowing council to better maintain and clean facilities.

Turned on/off automatically during twilight periods, reducing energy consumption, electricity costs and CO2 emissions

Provide interactive content to the public about events, wayfinding, local and community emergency information.

There are four digital kiosks installed in the new Maroochydore city centre.

The IoT gateway is a wireless communications network. It enables sensors and devices to communicate at very low power over distances. These sensors send small amounts of data over a wide area and collect valuable information to help council to make better data driven decisions and deliver improved services to our community.​​​​​​​

Council has 17 IoT gateways installed across the region. These gateways provide coverage to several locations, allowing sensors to be deployed more cost effectively.

Free public Wi-Fi is available to residents and visitors across the region.

Locations include council's 8 libraries, Caloundra Art Gallery, Sunshine Coast Airport, Venue 114, 3 Surf Life Saving Clubs, 5 holiday caravan parks and 12 public areas (parks, beachfront areas/esplanades, and sporting facilities).

Council is the first local government in Australian to invest in an international submarine cable which connects to the new Maroochydore city centre. It also provides Queensland's first direct international data and telecommunications connection to global systems.

The new Maroochydore City Centre has been designed for the 21st Century. It is breaking new ground with its extensive use of technology.

Digital solutions being provided include street lighting, car parking, water, power and signage.

Australia's first underground automated waste collection system (AWCS) for a CBD is live in the new Maroochydore City Centre. Waste and recyclables from buildings and street bins will move by vacuum pressure at up to 70km/h through a 6.5km network of underground pipes to a collection station. The collected material will then be transferred to disposal or recycling facilities.

The existing AWCS underground pipe network will be progressively extended into future stages as the city centre is developed.

Council offsets its entire electricity consumption across all its facilities and operations. We are Australia's first local government to do this. Renewable energy is generated at the 15MW Sunshine Coast Solar Farm.

Facilities and operations include administration buildings, aquatic centres and community and performance venues. Also included are holiday parks, libraries, art galleries and sporting facilities.

Camera mounted quad bikes survey conditions of the region's 1240km network of footpaths. They collect data to help plan upgrades.

The four cameras and computer systems record and score the condition of the footpath surface every 20 metres. This is to ensure the safety of footpath users and to sustain council's footpath network.

Parents receive real-time notifications about their child's arrival and departure from school. This is done via a digital platform which uses sensors. Individual bike and scooter trips are recorded and rewarded at certain milestones.

Council has partnered with We Ride Australia to trial the RideScore program in nine Sunshine Coast schools in 2021.

Informs dog owners about where and when they can walk their dogs and which locations require dogs to be on a leash. It also provides notifications and alerts when dog walkers approach new areas where there is a change to dog walking conditions.

This supports dog walker education and reducing number of infringement notices.

Council is using drones to undertake visual inspections of assets such as bridges and hard to reach structures. Drones also capture progress of projects. This uses a high definition video camera with GPS location, date and time stamp.

Aerial inspections save time. They also show if council is getting better life expectancy out of its capital asset investment. Drones also capture great visual images of the x for marketing and communications purposes.

The SCCApp provides easy and timely access to a variety of council services for local residents and visitors. This includes guided walks, events, around me, Disaster Hub, parking space availability etc. The app is available via the Apple Store and Google Play.