Higher Colleges of Technology runs 11 campuses and needed electricity meter data inside its existing BMS without laying RS485 cable. MachineSens IoT fitted Convert+ Modbus to LoRaWAN converters on the meters and used a BACnet gateway to pass the data to the BMS. Staff see meter data in the system they already use.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Client | Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) |
| Location | UAE |
| Sector | Higher education |
| Scale | 11 campuses |
| Devices | Convert+ Modbus RTU (RS485) to LoRaWAN converters, existing electricity meters |
| Network | LoRaWAN EU868 gateways |
| Integration | BACnet gateway to the existing BMS |
Results at a glance
- Existing electricity meters connected wirelessly, with no RS485 cabling
- Meter data shown directly in the campus BMS
- No extra software interface for operators to learn
- More meters and campuses can be added without new cabling
1. Client
Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is a higher education institution in the UAE with 11 campuses. It wanted better energy monitoring across its buildings, tied into its existing BMS.
2. Challenge
- Running RS485 Modbus cable to many meters in operating buildings was costly and slow.
- Every new meter would have meant more cabling, which limited growth.
- Meter data had to appear in the existing BMS, not in a separate tool.
- The solution had to be low maintenance and ready to scale.
3. Solution
- Converters: Convert+ reads each meter over Modbus RTU (RS485) and sends the data over LoRaWAN.
- Network: LoRaWAN gateways across the campuses give long-range wireless coverage.
- BMS link: a BACnet gateway passes the data to the existing BMS, so it appears on the dashboard teams already use.
4. Deployment
Converters sit next to the existing meters, so meters did not need replacing. Wireless LoRaWAN converters and gateways keep installation simple and maintenance low.
5. What results did wireless metering deliver?
- Meters report wirelessly to the BMS across the campuses.
- Operators view energy data in one familiar interface.
- Real-time readings support energy decisions.
- Adding meters later needs no new cable runs.
Products used
- Convert+ Modbus to LoRaWAN converter
- LoRaWAN gateways
- Energy meters
- BuildOT One module: Data Integration
Related: Education | Energy management | See all smart building case studies
Frequently asked questions
What does the Convert+ do?
It reads electricity meters over Modbus RTU (RS485) and sends the data over LoRaWAN, so no signal cable is needed between meters and the network.
How does the data reach the HCT BMS?
A BACnet gateway receives the LoRaWAN data and makes it available to the BMS.
Do existing meters need to be replaced?
No. The converter connects to the existing meter, which is why the approach suits retrofit projects.
