Are you one of the many councils across Australia feeling frustrated by the underwhelming performance of smart sensing technologies? Maybe you’ve had some initially exciting pilot projects that ultimately ended up with devices getting quietly switched off. You're not alone. The promise of these technologies often falls short due to operational costs, unclear ownership of assets or data, and a lack of tangible impact. But fear not, there's a better way forward.

The key to making smart sensing technologies truly pull their weight lies in having a clear and sustainable plan for data impact right from the start. It's all about starting with a problem in mind and ensuring that you have the capacity to act on the data you collect. Here's how you can do it:

1. Define the Problem: Start by identifying a problem that your organisation and community cares about, where you have the ability to make a difference. If data can help address this problem, then smart sensing might be the way to go.

2. Assess Existing Data: Before investing in new sensors, check if you can solve the problem using data you already have access to. If so, save yourself the effort and expense.

3. Define Data Needs: If new data is necessary, clearly define what data you need, including its type, quality, and frequency. Don't jump to commercial solutions just yet—focus on what's essential for your specific needs.

4. Capacity Check: Ensure your organisation has the skills, time, and resources needed to act on the problem, even with the new data you've identified.

5. Assign Roles and Responsibilities: Once you've determined that smart sensing is the way forward, make it concrete by assigning roles and responsibilities for managing technologies and data.

This impact-focused planning approach lies at the core of OPENAIR, a collaborative initiative between the NSW government, five top universities, and six local government participants. OPENAIR provides practical guidance and tools for smart environmental monitoring, specifically designed for local government use. Despite a focus on air quality and urban heat, the OPENAIR has much broader applicability to all forms of smart sensing. The resources are freely accessible, empowering councils to make informed decisions and drive meaningful change.

At the heart of the OPENAIR approach is the Impact Planning Cycle (IPC), which guides councils through six steps, starting with the crucial task of defining a 'data use action statement' (DUAS). This statement specifies who will use the new sensor data and how, to address a specific problem within a set timeframe. Without this clarity, investments in technology often fall short of delivering real value.

But the DUAS is just the beginning. The IPC provides a roadmap for designing, implementing, and operating a fit-for-purpose sensing network, managing and utilising collected data, taking evidence-based action, and evaluating the entire approach.

Whether you're considering air quality or heat monitoring, smart parking, asset tracking, or any other type of smart sensing, the OPENAIR resources offer valuable guidance to help you make strategic decisions with confidence. Visit the OPENAIR website today and start exploring the wealth of guidance and practical tools at your fingertips. It's time to make smart sensing smarter for the benefit of our communities.

Figure 1. Installation of an air quality monitoring station by Tweed Shire Council, that was used  to explore particulate matter pollution under the flightpath of the Gold Coast airport. Tweed was one of six local government partners in OPENAIR. They worked with the project team to inform development of  plain-language resources that are ideal for use by Council practitioners.