Ghirardelli Square is considered to be one of the first – if not the very first – successful adaptive reuse project in the country. With a history that spans a century and covers three continents, the specialty retail and dining complex houses shops and eateries, and it continues to serve today as a model for cutting-edge retailing and restoration complexes. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the square is still very much a popular attraction at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, California.
And the reason why you’re reading about it on IoT Evolution?
Namely, Semtech and Kairos.
Semtech, as many in the IoT space know, is a high-performance semiconductor, IoT systems and cloud connectivity services provider. Kairos, like Semtech, has become invested in innovation as well; though at Kairos, the focus is on water leak detection and control systems. The purpose-driven team at Kairos is on a mission to create the most resilient operational risk management technologies when it comes to the real-time mitigation of water-related threats. (e.g. custom solutions for old water heaters, frozen pipe conditions, leaky irrigation, HVAC, laundry and kitchen equipment, etc.) Kairos boasts what it describes as “the first and only patented leak sensor that uses flexible printed membranes,” and its products also feature remote shut-off, organic growth prevention, leak severity context, membrane mats and more.
Together, Semtech and Kairos have announced their collaboration to enhance the water monitoring and leak protection measures at Ghirardelli Square.
Here’s how it’ll work:
Kairos’ leak detection strip sensors and gateways based on Semtech’s LoRa technology operate on a LoRaWAN network and connect to the cloud to enable monitoring in real time. If a leak is detected, the LoRa-enabled sensors send an immediate alert to proper facilitates management personnel so that any potential damage can then be greatly reduced (or eliminated, entirely).
So, Ghirardelli will be taking full advantage of this technology. And considering what a blend of rich history and contemporary infrastructure lives in Ghirardelli Square, opting to integrate state-of-the-art leak protection systems without disrupting either tenant or customer experiences is of great importance to those behind the Ghirardelli scenes. This Semtech-Kairos collab means that modern, non-intrusive solutions will be able to handle risk mitigation efforts that are critical to preserving iconic assets like the ones in and around Ghirardelli Square.
“The U.S. spends upwards of one billion dollars annually on various restoration projects, promoting economic, environmental, and educational benefits for today’s businesses and consumers,” said Tom Mueller, Executive Vice President and General Manager, IoT System Products Group at Semtech Corporation. “As we modernize and preserve more historical locations, we must use minimally invasive, low-power and long-range risk mitigation solutions that do not disrupt the cultural experience. From water leaks to smoke detection, to air quality, to power management, and more, LoRa is the answer. And, in the case of Ghirardelli Square specifically, who doesn’t like a wonderful piece of chocolate?”
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
