6 MinsAugust 7 , 2019
There has been a lot of talk about smart cities. A city designed with technology at its heart, which uses a multitude of sensors and networks to control, improve and perhaps even reinvent the lives of its residents. If it still seems far-fetched,
what is becoming a reality faster is a smart campus. Turning a workplace or an educational institution into a smart campus with the right changes and steps could be possible right now. Perhaps you could even be in a smart campus right now,
without even knowing it.
Smart transportation
Different campuses have dealt with their transportation needs in different ways over the years. Some encourage people to use bicycles inside, some provide walkways between buildings, but for most, it has been the use of shuttle services in the
form of buses and other vehicles. These vehicles are often underutilized as they have to prioritise timing overfilling seats. In a smart campus, every such vehicle should be trackable via GPS or similar location services. Two-way communication
should be available between residents and the vehicle so that both know the status of the other, at any given point of time. For people using their vehicles, a connected parking network supported by wireless payments can help avoid congestion
and improve efficiency.
Smart lighting and appliances
A ‘smart’ campus shouldn’t only be focused on convenience. Another important parameter is efficiency. For many campuses, due to the nature of campus life, lights and appliances are in near-continuous use. However, they aren’t
usually needed to be turned on all the time. Bringing the smarts to lighting and appliances can help residents and administrators curb misuse of electrical devices. Using a combination of sensors, these devices can be set to operate only when
someone is present. Additionally, this can give insights into usage patterns and help campus administrators make better investment and renovation decisions. Besides, the savings on electricity bills are substantial.
Smart institutions
One of the pain points of working, studying or living on campus can be the absence of institutions you require in your day to day life such as hospitals, convenience stores or bank. While many campuses set up their facilities for the first two,
the third one requires significant investment for both the campus as well as the bank involved. The Axis Bank ATM can bring the full benefits of ATM Banking to any campus it is installed in. Customers can request for a new cheque book, balance inquiry and avail the PIN change facility. Customers can also pay insurance premiums or purchase/redeem mutual fund schemes via ATM Banking. Additional
features like fund transfer within Axis Bank and checking mini-statement are also available. Bringing an Axis Bank ATM onto the campus is almost as good as the campus having its dedicated bank - and you can always locate one near you.
Smart security
Using traditional methods of security, it might be difficult to secure every corner of an entire campus. However, a smart campus is free from many of the limitations that restrict its non-smart counterparts. Campus-wide high-speed connectivity
makes it possible to install smart IP video cameras anywhere a power source is present - for instance, alongside campus lighting. Additionally, ID cards given for authentication purposes (can also be used for payments) work as digital access
cards and help administrators track the presence of authorised individuals closely. Bluetooth beacon technology can help in tracking assets like televisions, lab/office equipment and more.
Disclaimer: This article has been authored by Siddharth Parwatay, a Mumbai based independent tech-journalist, editor, and content-creator. Axis Bank doesn't influence any views of the author in any way. Axis Bank and/or the author shall not be responsible for any direct / indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.
