The Mining Journal reports that Marquette, Michigan is deploying a city Wi-Fi network to link, monitor and control the city’s nine lift stations, the wastewater treatment plan, water filtration plan and municipal service center. The network would also allow maintenance staff to find out about problems before they escalate. Just those two applications will save the city a lot of The Mining Journal reports that Marquette, Michigan is deploying a city Wi-Fi network to link, monitor and control the city’s nine lift stations, the wastewater treatment plan, water filtration plan and municipal service center. The network would also allow maintenance staff to find out about problems before they escalate. Just those two applications will save the city a lot of money, according to Karl Zueger, the assistant city manager.
Last month, the Marquette City Commission approved a conceptual design for hybrid network consisting of wireless technology and a conventional radio network (some locations are not suited to a Wi-Fi deployment).
Details
The network will cost $373,000 to build plus $50,000 for services (engineering design and construction). They have not awarded the contract for construction. Marquette has also investigated the possibility of co-owning a fiber optic loop with the Marquette Board of Light and Power (BLP). The city is negotiating with BLP to buy 48 strands of fiber for $200,000 or less.
They expect to deliver other services on the network however, the city has no plans to become an ISP. They may partner with existing ISPs instead. Water and sewer funds will be used to fund the project and construction may begin as early as spring 2004.
Marquette is located on Lake Superior, has a population of 20,000 and covers an area of 30 square kilometers.
[Source: The Mining Journal]
There is a city of Marquette in Michigan, and the cited population looks about right. But Marquette is on Lake Superior (the north shore of Michigan’s upper peninsula) – not Lake Michigan.