SQU gets brand new IoT lab
Times News Service
MUSCAT: The Internet of Things (IoT) Laboratory of the Communication & Information Research Centre (CIRC) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) was opened on yesterday.
The opening function was held under the patronage of Dr. Hamad bin Salim Al Rawahi, Executive President of the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority.
The IoT Lab has been set up with the support of Omantel and Momkin companies with the aim of transforming SQU campus into a leading developer and exporter of smart campus solutions in the region by 2022 by utilising ICT and other technologies.
The lab will support the development of Smart City solutions in order to improve the quality of life of Omani citizens.
It will use, develop, test, study and conduct researches in the Internet of Things and related domains.
The lab aims to act as a platform for the development of different vertical applications that are also dedicated to other research areas of the University.
The lab is equipped with sufficient advanced resources including computers, switches, access points, smart board and others to conducts research and run most of the software scenarios, software development and testing.
The IoT lab has different IoT tools including Arduino kit, Raspberry-Pi 3 kot, IoTfy simulator, Open Rex and more.
In the current IoT lab setting, each student has an access to a workstation, and the instructor can provide instruction to many students at a time. In addition, graduate students can use the lab for self-directed research projects.
CIRC at SQU seeks to make this lab an open platform for developing various Internet applications in smart cities.
The lab also aims to promote awareness of the use and development of smart city solutions, provide an attractive environment for research and communication between users and Internet experts, smart objects and cities, and provide space for sharing experiences and discussing future applications of Internet and Smart Cities.
Students and academics can use the full range of Internet technologies to increase research capabilities, and use of Internet objects and other technologies in the development of health care, social care and energy management in an efficient and inexpensive manner. The lab is the first of its kind in the Sultanate.