Brisbane smart poles: City Wi-Fi expanded, noise and air quality monitored

Fancy new smart poles are popping up around Brisbane to help improve our way of life. But where are they located and what exactly do they do?

Brisbane City Council is installing 20 smart poles around the city. Picture: Michelle Smith

SMART poles are popping up around Brisbane to help Council monitor noise and air quality, count pedestrians and cyclists, and expand the city’s Wi-Fi network.

Council has paid $2.1 million for the construction and maintenance of 20 poles at key locations around Brisbane for 10 years.

A spokesman said the innovative smart poles “will help Council improve the operation and efficiency of the city”.

Brisbane City Council to install 20 smart poles

Brisbane City Council has installed a smart pole at Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza in Fitzgibbon. Picture: Michelle Smith

The poles can be customised to suit each location, so some may focus on real time data such as pedestrian and cycling traffic, others on Wi-Fi and USB charging ports, or monitoring flood and noise levels.

Pedestrian and cycling data may help to determine the origin and destination of active commuters and inform the bicycle and footpath network.

The 20 poles installed this financial year will be the first stage of the project.

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The majority (12) are located in Brisbane City, Fortitude Valley and New Farm, with three each in Brisbane’s north and west and one each in the south and east.

Fifty-nine potential locations had been identified for the poles, however stage one focuses on civic and open spaces, streets and pathways as well as skate parks.

All poles have a beacon at the top “which is not only decorative, but helps keep the public safe”, the council spokesman said.

Fifteen poles have already been installed, with the remaining five to be installed by mid-year.

BRISBANE SMART POLE LOCATIONS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

All but one pole (at the Tank St entrance to Kurilpa Bridge) will monitor pedestrian, scooter and cyclist numbers.

NORTH

■ Fitzgibbon: Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza (carpark side) – creative lighting, climate and air quality monitoring, Wi-Fi, USB charging

■ Sandgate: Sandgate-Brighton Foreshore (south of Arthur Davis Park) – climate and air quality monitoring, Wi-Fi, USB charging

■ Hamilton: Bretts Wharf Ferry Terminal (Kingsford Smith Dr entrance) – environmental noise, climate and air quality monitoring (to be installed by mid-2020)

The smart pole at Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza. Picture: Michelle Smith

SOUTH

■ South Brisbane: Kurilpa Bridge – Wi-Fi, USB charging, general power outlet

EAST

■ Wynnum: Wynnum Foreshore (near Pandanus Beach) – climate and air quality monitoring, USB charging

WEST

■ Paddington: Paddington Skate Park (cnr Caxton St and Hale St) – creative lighting, climate and air quality monitoring, Wi-Fi, USB charging

■ Paddington: Caxton St and Judge St intersection – climate and air quality monitoring (to be installed by mid-2020)

■ Mt Coot-tha: Botanic Gardens (Planetarium carpark) – climate monitoring

CENTRAL

■ Roma St, Albert St and Turbot St intersection – environmental noise, climate and air quality monitoring

■ Edward St and Alice St intersection – public safety lighting

■ Cnr of Albert St and Alice St – public safety lighting (to be installed by mid-2020)

■ Cnr of Albert St and Charlotte St – public safety lighting (to be installed by mid-2020)

■ City Botanic Gardens, Palm Ave – creative lighting

■ City Botanic Gardens Riverstage – climate and air quality monitoring

■ Goodwill Bridge (north side) – creative lighting, environmental noise monitoring, Wi-Fi

■ Kurilpa Bridge, Tank St entrance – climate and air quality monitoring

■ Howard Smith Wharves – climate and air quality monitoring

■ Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley (Wickham St entrance) – creative and public safety lighting, climate and air quality monitoring, general power outlet (to be installed by mid-2020)

■ Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley (opposite the carpark) – creative lighting, climate and air quality monitoring, general power outlet

■ New Farm Park (near river hub)