A twelve-week pilot deployment of an Internet of Things network architecture in the eastern city of Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has demonstrated the technical feasibility of real-time bin monitoring and algorithmic route optimization under challenging urban and topographical conditions.
Researchers designed and evaluated a multi-tier framework that pairs downward-facing ultrasonic distance sensors installed in waste receptacles with low-power wide-area wireless transmissions and an open-source data analytics engine.
The data processing pipeline funneled encrypted sensor readings via the MQTT protocol into an on-premises deployment of the open-source OpenRemote platform, designated as the Bukavu Waste Management System.
Subject of Research: Internet of Things network architecture for urban waste monitoring in Bukavu Article Title: Design of an IoT sensor-based network architecture for waste collection in Bukavu city (DRC) Article References: Mugaruka, O. M., Kala, J. R., Ndikumagenge, J., van Schadewijk, R., & Nibitanga, R. (2026).
Design of an IoT sensor-based network architecture for waste collection in Bukavu city (DRC).