Two students from Islamabad have bagged silver medal in the world finals of the International Computer Projects Competition held recently in Romania by providing a solution to end load-shedding.
Shahbaz Khattak and Abdul Muizz Lodhi of PakTurk School Islamabad have designed a GSM-based Automatic Meter Reader (AMR) which was presented in the Infomatrix Romania where their project won silver medal in the category of Hardware Control.
AMR can collect consumption data from power, gas and water meters without involvement of meter readers. It transmits data to central database of service providing company for billing, troubleshooting, and analysis.
AMR saves utility providers the expense of visiting every location to read a meter. Its billing is based on actual consumption rather than estimates, past or predicted consumption. Moreover timely information can help utility providers and customers’ better control usage and production.
It provides accurate data, track usage, improve energy management, detect tempering and cut operational costs by discouraging wastage to boost profit. It can be used for security and fire alarm systems. With some modifications, it can allow power companies to remotely switch off air conditioners and other home appliances drawing extreme amounts of energy, thereby encouraging conservation.
Hundreds of students from many countries including United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Russian Federation, and Turkey participated in the event and presented projects covering a wide variety of topics.