Life cycle analysis of smart devices in the municipality of Campos dos Goyatacazes, RJ

Abstract

Using smart devices to collect urban mobility data is becoming increasingly common in Brazil's major cities. The idea of ​​inserting these devices to collect data is innovative, but it brings up some pertinent points that should be analyzed cautiously. In the case study made in the Municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, an analysis is made of the devices installed in vehicles around the city. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the environmental aspects linked to the use of these devices as a way of collecting data for research development to make data collection and analysis more efficient and environmentally sound. Thus, carrying out a life cycle analysis (LCA) of smart devices brings an inherent debate about the authorities' responsibility regarding electronic device use and disposal. LCA seeks to identify whether the useful life of smart devices overlaps with their ability to capture and transmit such expected data. Therefore, concepts such as the Internet of Things, LoRa Technology, and Smart Cities were explored to deepen the debate on the life cycle of devices and consider the importance of an environmental balance in mobility data discussion. Some of the results show that 68% of the devices analyzed were not fully functional, which can be explained by the malfunctioning of the vehicle sockets and the purposeful disconnection of the devices by drivers.