RAK Sensor Hubs Optimize Envionix’s Facade and Office Monitoring Solution
| Quick Look: Use Case Summary | |
|---|---|
| Industry | Building Management and Environmental Monitoring |
| Sub-Industry | Facade and Indoor Climate Sensing |
| Deployment Area | Outdoor Facades and Indoor Offices or Warehouses |
| IoT Products Used | Sensor Hub, Probe IO, WisGate Edge Gateway, LoRaWAN® Network |
Highlight Summary
- Envionix used RAKwireless Sensor Hubs to simplify facade, office, and warehouse monitoring with one flexible LoRaWAN sensor hub setup.
- Each IP67 Sensor Hub connects up to 17 MEMS or third-party probes through a single splitter, reducing extra hardware, wiring, and installation work.
- Probe IO support lets Envionix combine built-in MEMS sensors with specialized third-party probes on the same node.
- Weatherproof cables and quick mounting made the system practical for outdoor facades and hard-to-reach indoor spaces.
- WisGate Edge handled the internal LoRaWAN network server and forwarded sensor data to the cloud through MQTT.
- The system captures facade stress, indoor comfort, humidity, CO₂, air quality, temperature, pressure, wind, and other building condition data.
- Envionix gained a scalable monitoring workflow that reduced custom development, improved visibility, and supported smarter facility decisions across multiple locations.
Company Profile
Envionix is a prominent Italian firm and one of Northern Europe's largest facade contractors. The company builds unitized curtain wall systems for its retrofit projects on existing office buildings and warehouses. They faced the intricate challenge of measuring a diverse range of environmental data both outdoors, on building facades, and indoors, within office and warehouse spaces.
The Problem
The project demanded compact sensors with the capability to connect approximately 17 different sensors to individual sensor nodes. As these nodes would sit high on exterior walls and in hard-to-reach indoor areas, running cables was not an option. Envionix, therefore, needed every node to send data wirelessly and push readings to the cloud through a stable MQTT connection. They needed an MQTT to cloud sensor gateway that could move building data from many sensor points into one reliable cloud workflow. The network had to work nonstop, handle many sensor types simultaneously, and stay reliable in all weather and site conditions.
Location
Europe
The Solution
Envionix found the perfect answer in the RAK Sensor Hub, known for its superior flexibility. As an IoT sensor hub, it helped Envionix bring different sensor types into one connected system. The advanced Sensor Hub allowed Envionix to either integrate MEMS sensors within the sensor probes for cost efficiency or connect third-party sensors using the Probe IO.
This adaptability was pivotal, especially given the diversity of sensors Envionix needed for their project. Additionally, the Hub’s IP67 rating and weatherproof probe connections let them install nodes both indoors and outdoors with ease.
Technical Summary of the RAKwireless Products Used
-
RAK Sensor Hub
The core IP67 node that powers and aggregates up to 17 sensors. -
Probe IO interface
Lets each Sensor Hub accept third-party or specialized probes alongside built-in MEMS sensors. -
WisGate Edge gateway (RAK7268 series)
Backhauls all data, runs the internal LoRaWAN network server, and forwards readings to the cloud over MQTT. (RAK7268 is now end of life. For new projects, use RAK7268V2, the updated version of the WisGate Edge gateway series.)
The Outcome
RAKwireless’s solution gave Envionix:
- Hassle-free installation options tailored for both indoor and outdoor sensor nodes.
- The customization options and freedom to use any sensor technology without extra custom work.
- Built-in WisGate Edge gateways with an internal network server and MQTT support. This facility eliminated the need for additional development efforts and matched perfectly with Envionix's requirements.
Now, Envionix can take smarter operational decisions with way better resource management across multiple locations. This also helped them improve their overall sustainability practices.
What Did Envionix Capture with Each Sensor Hub?
The project called for two distinct sensor suites - one for outdoor facade monitoring and another for indoor climate assessment. This gave Envionix one setup for facade readings and another for indoor climate monitoring sensors used inside offices and warehouses. Thanks to Probe IO and the Hub’s 17-port capacity, Envionix could mix cost-saving MEMS probes with specialized RAKwireless and third-party devices on the same node.
The list below shows the readings they now collect in each area.
| Outdoor Readings | Indoor Readings |
|---|---|
| Air Temperature & Relative Humidity | Humidity probes |
| Precipitation | Thermohygrometer |
| Barometric pressure | Thermal - surface temperature |
| Barometric pressure | Wood moisture & thermal sensor |
| Long-wave atmospheric counter-radiation | Mean radiant temperature |
| Wind velocity + direction | Air velocity |
| Illuminance and Pressure taps | |
| CO₂ concentration (ventilation) |
By streaming every one of these readings through WisGate Edge gateways, Envionix now has a single, live dashboard for facade stress, indoor comfort, and air-quality trends. This also supports air quality monitoring for offices where CO₂, humidity, and comfort readings matter every day. Facility teams spot issues sooner, schedule maintenance smarter, and keep occupants comfortable, all without extra wiring or coding.
How RAKwireless Was the Right Fit?
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Flexibility in Sensor Integration
Envionix benefited from the Hub’s dual sensor integration capability. This allowed them to either incorporate budget-friendly MEMS sensors directly or integrate specialized third-party sensors with the Probe IO connection. -
Cost-Efficient Deployment
The Sensor Hub's ability to connect multiple sensors in a single location using a splitter significantly reduced deployment costs for Envionix. It also simplified the hardware setup for them.
The Smart Collaboration with RAKwireless
RAKwireless and Envionix's collaboration epitomizes how the right technology can simplify complex challenges. With the adaptable Sensor Hub and seamless WisGate Edge integration, they now monitor environmental data reliably across all their sites. This partnership proves that with the right technology partner, no challenge is too big.
Getting Started
Let’s monitor your buildings smartly together.
Reach out to our team, and we’ll help you roll out a quick-install sensor network for facade monitoring.
