Worldsensing is proud to announce that Oumaima Zghouda has successfully completed her master’s final project as part of the University of Barcelona (UB) and Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT. Zghouda’s research focused on assessing the environmental impact of Worldsensing’s operations and technology during 2023. This project highlights the practical value of the Chair in fostering academic and industry collaboration while demonstrating Worldsensing’s commitment to sustainability.
Applied research on environmental impact
Oumaima Zghouda, a Master’s student in Renewable Energy and Energy Sustainability at the University of Barcelona, conducted the first-ever comprehensive analysis of the carbon footprint of Worldsensing’s products throughout their entire life cycle. Her research provided critical insights into the environmental impact of the company’s operations.
A key finding of the study identified transportation of products as the most significant contributor to the environmental impact, primarily due to the long distances from Barcelona, where Worldsensing is headquartered, to deployment sites worldwide. The study also highlighted that the impact of the electricity used to power IoT gateways varies substantially across regions, influenced by the local energy sources and the mix of renewable and non-renewable energy used in each area.
Most notably, Zghouda’s research revealed a remarkable environmental benefit during the operational phase of Worldsensing’s solutions: the substantial reduction in CO2 emissions associated with the regular transportation of workers to deployment sites. Specifically, emissions from worker travel to deployment sites were cut by 87.6% prior to installation, thanks to Worldsensing’s remote monitoring technology. Notwithstanding that this analysis is based on a preliminary theoretical model subject to further refinement, Zghouda’s study estimates that for all IoT nodes and gateways sold in 2023, global emissions could be reduced by nearly 60% when comparing to traditional manual, on-site operations.
This project underscores the transformative potential of IoT technologies in driving more sustainable industrial practices. It’s an exciting first step toward understanding how we can further minimise our environmental impact.”
Dr. Francisco Hernández-Ramírez, Worldsensing’s VP of Compliance and Product and Zghouda’s academic tutor.
It is important to note that this research is an academic exercise; the results are neither binding nor auditable but represent an initial attempt to quantify the positive environmental impact of using Worldsensing’s products.
Sustainability at the core of Worldsensing
Zghouda’s findings align with Worldsensing’s ongoing sustainability efforts. Earlier this year, the company disclosed the calculation of its corporate carbon footprint, setting a baseline for future environmental performance improvements.
“Zghouda’s research confirms the positive impact of our remote technology in reducing emissions compared to the methods traditionally used for monitoring construction projects and infrastructure,” said Maite Garcia, Director of Sustainability at Worldsensing. “Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and we are already working with the data from Oumaima’s study and the results of our carbon footprint calculation to make our products and operations more sustainable. There is always more work to do to improve”
Worldsensing’s sustainability commitment began several years ago with the achievement of ISO 14001 certification, marking a dedication to systematic environmental management. Since then, the company is dedicated to progressively integrating sustainability into all aspects of its operations, from product design to deployment and beyond. Zghouda’s work provides an academic framework that complements these broader initiatives, offering valuable insights to drive progress in reducing the company’s carbon footprint.
The UB-Worldsensing Chair: a bridge between academia and industry
Zghouda’s project is the first master’s thesis completed under the UB-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT, established in 2023. This Chair is a cornerstone of Worldsensing’s commitment to fostering innovation and bridging the gap between academia and industry. It aims to create opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience, conduct impactful research, and align their academic work with real-world industrial needs.
Through this initiative, Worldsensing has provided a platform for aspiring professionals to thrive, and Zghouda’s journey exemplifies this. During her internship at Worldsensing, she contributed to calculating the company’s business carbon footprint and supported efforts related to ISO 14001 compliance. Now the completion of her Master’s project marks a milestone for the UB-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT, showcasing the successful culmination of this collaborative effort.
Next generation of talent in sustainable technologies
As the UB-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT enters its second year, the program continues to provide students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research, internships, and industry collaborations. With initiatives like Zghouda’s project, the Chair is setting a strong precedent for how academia and industry can work together to drive innovation and address pressing global challenges like sustainability.
“Projects like Zghouda’s are a testament to what’s possible when we bring together talented individuals, academic excellence, and industry expertise,” added Ignasi Vilajosana, CEO of Worldsensing. “We look forward to more achievements like this as the Chair continues to grow and inspire innovation.”
As part of a commitment to transparency, Zghouda’s master’s final report is publicly available. If you wish to access it, please contact us at [email protected]