Sensors and Software
Harnessing The Internet of Things (IoT) Towards Smart Governance
“…IoT integration can positively impact human and organizational performance by reducing errors, providing accurate data for strategic decisions, and fostering knowledge sharing, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency.”
The Ubiquity of IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) emerges as a transformative global network, constituting intelligent objects that autonomously organize, share information, and dynamically respond to environmental changes. Positioned at the forefront of computing and communications, IoT heralds a future marked by ubiquitous connectivity, enabling seamless interactions across entities and locations. This paradigm shift relies on integrating sensors and actuators embedded in physical objects, interconnected through wired and wireless networks, leveraging the ubiquitous Internet Protocol (IP) foundational to the broader Internet. The resultant networks produce vast datasets channeled to computers for comprehensive analysis, as outlined by Madakam, Ramaswamy, and Tripathi in 2015.
The IoT is a system that collaborates sensors and software to connect and exchange data over the Internet. In the 21st century, IoT has played a pivotal role in acquiring and exchanging real-time data, reducing human intervention in decision-making processes. IoT is known for its cost-effectiveness, low power consumption, and user-friendly sensor technology, enhanced by cloud-based embedded computing platforms. Notable advancements include integrating machine learning, predictive analytics, and communicative artificial intelligence, exemplified by technologies like Apple iPhone’s Siri, as highlighted by Paradina, Ryan M., and Noroña Marvin I. in 2021. These developments underscore IoT’s evolution as a revolutionary force shaping modern computing, data exchange, governance, and public management.
IoT has become a focal point across academia, industry, and the public sector, representing a global network of interconnected machines and devices designed to engage in mutual communication. Positioned as a critical element of future technology, the IoT is considered one of the pillars of the fourth industrial revolution. Recognized as indispensable for digitizing society and the economy, the IoT’s projected market value in the European Union was expected to surpass one trillion euros by 2020. Furthermore, estimates suggest that by 2025, IoT’s annual global economic impact could range from 3 trillion to 9 trillion euros, constituting nearly 11% of the world economy (Velsberg, Ott in L. Strous and V. G. Cerf 2019). The rapid ascent of IoT has been described as the most disruptive phase of the Internet revolution, boasting ubiquity and manifesting in similar concepts like “Internet of Everything,” “ubiquitous computing,” “pervasive computing,” and “ambient intelligence.” Although these terms share similarities, distinctions among them are primarily academic. At its core, IoT is a broad term encompassing interconnected objects with processing and sensor capabilities, facilitating the transmission of information from the external environment. This interconnectedness enables various entities, such as sensors, beacons, actuators, and mobile phones, to collaborate and achieve common goals with their intelligent components (Velsberg, Ott in L. Strous and V. G. Cerf 2019).
The transformative power of IoT transcends the private sector, reshaping daily life and revolutionizing data collection and response. This evolution opens opportunities for innovation across individuals, governments, and businesses, leveraging embedded computing power. Recent studies emphasize the growing importance of IoT in the public sector, with governments adopting information technology to overhaul operations and create sustainable, efficient living environments.
The implementation of IoT spans diverse settings, from bustling cities to rural landscapes. By deploying IoT devices, local governments gain the ability to monitor and promptly address various aspects of urban and rural spaces, offering citizens relevant information and services. IoT proves invaluable in creating and enhancing services, boosting internal management efficiency, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders (Velsberg, Ott in L. Strous and V. G. Cerf 2019).
In the public sector, IoT emerges as a catalyst for improvement in diverse areas such as healthcare, education, utilities, infrastructure, buildings, environment, and culture. As a result, IoT becomes pivotal in streamlining governmental processes and engaging citizens across all spheres of local governance. Despite its potential, the specific ways IoT generates public value and how local governments can benefit from its implementation still need to be explored, as highlighted by Velsberg in 2019. Consequently, there is a need for further exploration and research to unlock the full potential of IoT in the public sector.
The IoT has evolved into a global communication network where interconnected objects seamlessly exchange and respond to data through the Internet (Donaldson, 2022; Trend Micro, 2023 in Sangalang, 2024). The transformative potential of IoT extends across various industries, offering organizations the benefits of real-time access to operational data, thereby contributing to cost savings, improved safety protocols, and elevated standards for products and services (Gillis, 2022; Kumar, 2019). As IoT advances, its impact on private and public sectors becomes increasingly pronounced, heralding a future marked by innovative solutions, enhanced connectivity, and continually reshaping how we interact with the digital and physical worlds.
IoT in Private and Public Management
There is a critical need for evolved public service delivery that caters to increasing demands for personalized services in the digital social environment to overcome limitations in traditional government systems. IoT emerges as a transformative solution for E-government public services, establishing a data-aware society and dynamic convergence, as emphasized by Chen et al. in 2023. Shifting towards a distributed multicenter approach alleviates the strain on centralized services, aiming for consistent government trust and decentralized, diversified, and equivalent services. The real estate registration center in Dongguan City, China, demonstrates the efficacy of this approach, addressing inefficiencies and fostering a more responsive, adaptive, and citizen-centric public service delivery (Chen et al., 2023).
In the era of digital intelligence, abundant information accessibility may pose unexpected challenges for public administrators. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations redefine the dynamics of public administration, diminishing the administrators’ professional power in policy implementation. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology intensifies this shift, potentially transitioning policymaking from expertise reliance to technology-driven mass production, as noted by Ni in 2022. As digital intelligence reshapes administrative landscapes, adapting policies and practices becomes imperative for public administrators to navigate evolving challenges and opportunities in this technological revolution.
The IoT’s pervasive influence has transformed cybersecurity governance, posing user authentication and network security challenges. Expanding attack surfaces demand the public safety community safeguard against IoT-related threats. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency advocates a diverse approach, emphasizing strict IoT device access guidance, new encryption schemes, and Standard Operating Procedures for vulnerability tracking. Combining self-regulation, data protection laws, and privacy considerations is crucial. System design, resiliency, user education, network prioritization, and collaboration with industry players are vital elements in creating a secure IoT-based communications infrastructure, ensuring connectivity without compromising existing priority communication systems.
Integrating the IoT into e-government promises enhanced connectivity, biometric security, and mutual authentication. Successful implementation requires a stable broadband infrastructure, collaborative efforts, adequate information systems, and adherence to data security and privacy laws. Shao et al. (2023) highlight IoT’s potential benefits across various e-government facets, including healthcare, transport, environment, emergency services, and security. Despite efficiency improvements, persistent barriers include technological challenges, organizational issues, legislative gaps, security threats, device heterogeneity, interoperability, privacy concerns, legal issues, and a slow pace of IoT policies.
Analyzing Information Technology (IT) adoption in public administration through theoretical frameworks reveals insights into technological change dynamics. Technological determinism posits that new technology drives change, exemplified by enterprise resource planning systems. Reinforcement theory suggests administrators adopt IT aligned with their views and relevant to public sector IT adoption. The sociotechnical perspective emphasizes people-technology interplay in shaping organizational change. Examining IT in public administration is vital for understanding its impact on trust, IT spending, system performance, and demands on public managers. Incorporating IoT into e-government is a pivotal aspect of the evolving technological landscape, presenting promises and challenges for public administration.
Studying the intersection of public administration and information technology (IT) is crucial due to the distinct differences between the private and public sectors. Public sector agencies, facing more complex and ambiguous goals, contend with vague, hard-to-measure, and conflicting objectives due to political oversight and diverse interests. These organizations operate under formalized procedures and administrative tasks regulated by central agencies, with greater external oversight. The lower work-related satisfaction in public agencies poses challenges in recruiting and retaining top talent.
In IoT development, Velsberg’s study (2019) highlights the public value perspective, emphasizing collaboration, transparency, and participation in extracting value from IoT initiatives. The study suggests not treating these elements as mere administrative goals, as that could harm the efficiency and effectiveness of public organizations. It advocates leveraging generated data to transform operations, guide investments and decisions, and encourage collaboration with private entities. Additionally, Velsberg stresses the importance of a formal evaluation of IoT implementation, considering value generators beyond efficiency, such as improvements in management and policy based on IoT-generated data.
Extending IoT development to developing countries requires a policy framework addressing security, privacy, standards, and government regulations (Ugwuanyi et al., 2021). Managing radio spectrum allocation within the 1 GHz to 6 GHz range is crucial for effective IoT deployment, demanding careful oversight for spectrum sharing. Addressing security concerns in wireless technologies, including privacy and intellectual property safeguards, is essential for fostering a conducive environment. These insights highlight the multifaceted challenges and opportunities at the intersection of public administration, information technology, and IoT, stressing the importance of comprehensive strategies and collaborative efforts.
The IoT is becoming increasingly integral in enhancing public sector operations, with applications ranging from cost reduction to service improvement. In Jordan, a specific case study explores the implementation of a vehicle tracking system (VTS) utilizing various technologies like sensors, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Location-Based Services (LBS). The study conducted by Al-Sebae and Abu-Shanab (2022) elaborates on the perspectives of managers and drivers regarding the IoT-enabled tracking system. Managers perceived anticipated benefits, including cost reduction and enhanced control over drivers’ behaviors. However, contrasting viewpoints emerged from drivers, who expressed dissatisfaction due to concerns about privacy violations, perceived inequity in implementation, and a general lack of awareness about the system’s utility.
Expanding IoT applications in education, Westergren, Jonsson, and Velsberg (2019) emphasize safety, student engagement, and indoor climate optimization developments. Despite limited municipal adoption, only two instances in Finland implemented systems for attendance recording and remote notification of late arrivals or absences. Despite slow adoption, the potential benefits of IoT in education are significant, enhancing learning experiences and providing personalized education. IoT is advancing in infrastructure and transportation, as seen in intelligent lighting and flood monitoring systems. These cases highlight the evolving landscape of IoT applications, presenting opportunities and challenges in public sector domains.
In language teaching, Dela Rosa’s study (2016) in the Philippines emphasizes the positive impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on learning activities. Both novice and experienced teachers exhibit favorable attitudes toward ICT in language instruction, fostering media literacy and higher-order thinking skills. The study highlights the stimulating effects of ICT on collaborative and autonomous learning, ensuring student achievement, motivation, and the acquisition of higher-order thinking skills and social competencies. This dual perspective on IoT’s transformative role in public sector operations and educational practices underscores its versatility in driving positive change across diverse domains, offering new avenues for innovation and efficiency improvements.
The transformative impact of IoT spans various sectors, showcasing innovation in water management, parking, waste collection, and urban planning. In Fountain Valley, USA, water measurement sensors led to a remarkable 23% reduction in consumption. San Leandro, USA, employed irrigation clocks for water conservation. Cottesloe, Australia, optimized parking with 588 sensors, boosting revenue and efficiency. Santander, Spain, deployed over 6,000 IoT devices for waste management and urban planning. These examples, highlighted by Velsberg (2019), illustrate IoT’s diverse applications, emphasizing its potential to drive innovation, cut costs, and contribute to environmental sustainability in the public sector.
IoT emerges as a pivotal tool in addressing road traffic safety concerns in Metro Manila, Philippines, as revealed by Paradina and Norona’s study in 2021. The research identifies human interface errors, lack of driving experience, adverse weather or environmental conditions, and inadequate government policies as the primary factors influencing road traffic safety. Recognizing the diverse nature of these challenges, the study underscores the potential of IoT applications in mitigating such issues, paving the way for improved road safety measures and accident reduction strategies. Below is the data for the Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) Annual Report 2019.
Tables 1 and 2 reflect the total road crash incidents in Metro Manila for 2019.
Table 1. 2019 Road Crash Statistics in Metro Manila.
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Table 2. 2019 Average Road Crash per Day in Metro Manila.
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The Data is Not Available
Figure 1, however, shows the increasing trend of road traffic accidents. The Metro Manila Accident Reporting and Analysis System (MMARAS) report considered the following the following risk factors: Human Interface, Vehicular and Mechanical Related, Infrastructure Related, Traffic Management Related (Laws and Law Enforcement), and Weather or Environment to lay down the 11-year (2009-2019) accident pattern.
Statistical Trend
Figure 1. 2019 Road Crash Statistical Trends in Metro Manila.
In a study by Velasco, efforts to leverage IoT’s potential in agriculture were explored. The study focused on creating and evaluating a utility model for an IoT-enabled solar-powered intelligent agricultural monitoring system tailored for a vegetable garden. Tested by 23 IT experts from Isabela State University Cauayan Campus, the prototype adhered to the quality standards outlined by Kim (2016), demonstrating functionality, reliability, efficiency, and portability. Notably, the prototype utilized a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) module for farmer communication and a Wi-Fi module for sensor data processing, showcasing IoT’s versatility beyond road traffic safety to revolutionize agricultural practices for improved efficiency and sustainability.
Garbage monitoring systems have advanced significantly, enhancing waste management practices. Early IoT-based systems, like Shyam et al. (2017), used ultrasonic sensors for real-time monitoring but faced challenges distinguishing solid and liquid waste. Innovations like SMS notifications via GSM modules lacked visual indicators and real-time cloud-based monitoring. Sathish et al. (2017) introduced a sophisticated, real-time system incorporating flame and moisture sensors for fire detection and sorting wet and dry garbage. Proposed enhancements include solar panel integration for energy conservation. Idwan et al. (2016) optimized waste management with GPRS-based smart dumpsters but lacked large-scale testing. Aziz et al. (2015) developed a trash monitoring system with a force sensor and image processing for garbage level monitoring.
Bharadwaj et al. (2016) introduced an advanced garbage monitoring system using Long Range (LoRa) technology, enabling cloud-based data transmission via the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol. Future improvements may include automatic visual indicators for users. Thakker and Narayanamoorthi (2015) incorporated spectroscopy technology for effective garbage collection routes but lacked SMS notifications at crucial stages. Parilla et al. (2020) focused on garbage level monitoring in Cebu City, Philippines, integrating components like ultrasonic sensors, an IoT module, a web application, a GSM module, and more. The system uses GPS technology to operate on solar energy and provides real-time updates on garbage levels. Future research recommendations include a robotic mechanism for garbage collection and enhanced intelligent features for precise differentiation between garbage and water levels. These examples highlight diverse technological advancements in garbage monitoring, showcasing IoT’s potential to address environmental challenges and contribute to a sustainable and technologically advanced future across industries.
The industrial Internet of Things emerges as a transformative solution for addressing environmental challenges in manufacturing. Pacis, Subido, and Bugtai (2017) advocate for its widespread adoption across industries, highlighting benefits like energy efficiency, sustainable manufacturing practices, and cross-functional factory modeling. The IoT’s potential extends to real-time air pollution monitoring, enhancing manufacturing process efficiency. It also catalyzes the development of sustainable products and processes, contributing to a more environmentally conscious and sustainable industry future.
Thus, it seriously suggested that IoT promises to revolutionize public services by creating a secure and transparent environment. Chen et al. (2023) emphasize the potential of IoT to enable seamless data sharing across regions, subjects, and systems, facilitating the exchange of valuable information in a trustworthy manner. The integration of privacy computing technologies further ensures the credibility of computing processes and data without the necessity of collecting and sharing original data. This innovative approach not only enhances the efficiency of government public services but also instills confidence among the public by prioritizing data security and integrity.
They are expanding the scope to the healthcare, food, and manufacturing industries. The IoT has the transformative potential to shift the paradigm from cure to prevention, empowering individuals with greater control over well-being decisions and ultimately improving clinical outcomes. The feasibility of telehealth is significantly bolstered by connected smart devices, paving the way for more proactive healthcare approaches. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and dementia are expected to shape the future demands on health services.
The IoT positively impacts organizational performance in diverse sectors, such as the restaurant industry. Sangalang et al. (2024) emphasize IoT’s role in reducing human errors, providing accurate data for strategic marketing decisions, facilitating convenient knowledge storage and sharing among staff, and enhancing operational and managerial processes. This utilization of knowledge, enabled by IoT, leads to faster, real-time communication and increased daily operational productivity, significantly enhancing the restaurant’s organizational performance.
In manufacturing, Pacis, Subido, and Bugtai (2017) highlight IoT’s pivotal role in process control, sustainability, and energy efficiency, providing real-time insights and control for improved efficiency and sustainability beyond traditional operational methods.
IoT and Data Security Risks
Challenges in E-government public services, highlighted by Chen et al. (2023), encompass risks to public trust from government centralization, high service expectations, and data security concerns. Comprehensive solutions are needed to enhance data reliability, security, and public trust in E-government initiatives. The transformative impact of IoT raises concerns about privacy and security, as Yusof et al. (2020) emphasize. Balancing these concerns with uncertainties about ownership and control requires a rigid security framework. The Internet Society (2016) advocates a collaborative approach to IoT security, emphasizing effective solutions. The potential of IoT lies in interconnected device-generated data, requiring responsible use through accountability, transparency, and user consent. The OECD Privacy Guidelines underscore transparency and consent, necessitating a user-centric model empowering individuals in data collection, use, and disclosure. Ethical and legal challenges accompany IoT’s transformative potential, emphasizing the need for frameworks and addressing scalability, availability, and reliability. Ensuring quality of service (QOS) in IoT involves critical metrics for creating a responsible and sustainable IoT environment. Ongoing collaboration is essential to shape a positive IoT future while safeguarding rights, security, and privacy (Kumar et al., 2019).
Conclusion
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a transformative force, revolutionizing global networks and enabling seamless interactions among intelligent objects. At the forefront of computing and communications, IoT promises widespread connectivity, shaping dynamic and interconnected systems. As a solution for E-government public services, IoT addresses the limitations of traditional government centralized systems, offering the potential to establish a data-aware society for efficient service delivery.
In many dimensions, IoT integration can positively impact human and organizational performance by reducing errors, providing accurate data for strategic decisions, and fostering knowledge sharing, contributing to enhanced operational efficiency.
However, as IoT becomes integral, the need for a fortified security framework is emphasized, acknowledging challenges from cyber threats and data theft. Navigating this transformative landscape requires a careful balance between innovation and security measures to unlock the full potential of IoT in shaping the digital future.