Distributed Sensor Architecture Leveraging Telecommunication Infrastructure for Smart Environment Intelligence (Published)
This article focuses on the evolution of telecommunication towers as distributed Smart Environment Intelligence Centers which use complex multi-tier sensor architectures with advanced communications and integrated AI/edge computing. Given the current state of technology and infrastructure, the study defines telecom towers, traditionally passive communication structures, as high-value nodes for environmental, structural, and geospatial intelligence. The review raises awareness of three degrees of sensing: basic environmental sensors for temperature, humidity, air quality, wind profiling and visual surveillance; advanced technologies such as Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) and thermal analytics; and special sensing auto related to the deserts such as sand and dust storms, UV/solar radiation, and high-density crowd analytics. The article highlights the exceptional relevance of these systems in the case of Saudi Arabia with such peculiarities as sandstorms and high winds, deadly hot, and huge areas of critical infrastructures, requiring precise monitoring in real time. Methodologically, the study incorporates hybrid communications protocols (LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, 5G) with edge-based, artificial intelligence-powered processing and application of predictive analytics to showcase a scale-up architecture that can be used for national resilience, public safety and integrated urban planning. The grounds discovered show significant operational advantages, including enhanced hazard forecasting capabilities, asset maintenance through predictive analytics, and diverse new revenue models such as Sensors-as-a-Service (SaaS) and data brokerage for the governmental and commercial sectors. The article concludes that the telecom-based environmental intelligence system provides a high-impact, cost-efficient platform for nations seeking advanced environmental resilience and smart city capabilities.
Keywords: Smart towers, distributed acoustic sensing, environmental intelligence, sandstorm monitoring, structural health monitoring