Cisco forms IoT partnership with $8 billion infrastructure firm Downer

Cisco has partnered with infrastructure service provider Downer on a large scale IoT project that it says will bring digital advantages to the Australian transport and infrastructure industry.

The partnership will see Downer work with Cisco’s IoT network platform Cisco Kinetic for Cities, the vendor’s smart city framework formerly known as the Smart+Connected Digital Platform, to deliver a number of smart city applications including intelligent street lighting, traffic light management, waste management and security.

Cisco ANZ chief technology officer Kevin Bloch said transportation was an area of focus for the networking vendor.

“Today, the partnership includes joint solution development to address customer use cases such as safety and operational efficiency, use of the Cisco IoT portfolio including the Kinetic IoT Data Fabric to deliver insight and action from data, video analytics and cyber security,” he said.

“Together, we look to deliver IoT solutions that increase safety for the general public through the prevention of accidents and collision-related deaths, as well as the offering of safe and well-run travel alternatives.”

Through the partnership, Downer has already installed smart streetlights, stormwater drains, signs and infrastructure on roads. The connected services will give priority to trams and buses and offer data for better management of roads.

Downer technology and innovation group manager Jeff Sharp said Cisco would be a critical partner as the infrastructure builder moved ahead with its smart city deployments in the coming years.

“Downer is keen to maintain and grow our leadership position in this market and the partnership with Cisco lets us tap into some of the best technology globally and deliver our customers smart infrastructure that makes life better for the general public,” he said.

Downer is a $7.8 billion industrial infrastructure services businesses, maintaining some 33,000km of road in Australia. The company also builds rail, bridges, power, gas, water and oil network infrastructure, and also offers fibre, copper and radio network deployment.

In the 12 months to 30 June, 2017 Downer won new infrastructure projects including Newcastle Light Rail, the NSW Transport Access Program and the High Capacity Metro Trains depots in Melbourne, according to the company’s most recent full-year report.