ABSTRACT
The Internet of Things (IoT) is an integral part of modern-day life not only in urban areas but also in rural areas. Stakeholders from different fields have experienced the effective use of IoT along with existing technologies. The enormous potential of IoT-based systems has transformed almost every sector drastically. According to Cisco, by the year 2030, the expected number of IoT devices will be around 500 billion. IoT has significant roles to play in several areas, including smart homes, smart buildings, supply chain management, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, defense, livestock management, mining, e-commerce, wildlife protection, transportation, sports, disaster management, waste management, smart grids, and many more. In order to achieve and maintain sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, different countries are adopting long-term plans to implement eco-friendly projects for their people. Sustainability refers to living according to our necessities, but without harming nature and also protecting and preserving natural resources for future generations. The central task of IoT-based systems is to collect data from their environment using different sensors, process, and analyze the collected data to infer the best decision, considering both time and situation. IoT systems have been facing several challenges that include energy consumption by devices, security vulnerabilities, e-waste generation, and many more. We will emphasize on the design and development of energy-efficient sensors and actuators, physical protection of IoT systems from natural hazards, security measures against possible cyberattacks, etc. This chapter focuses on several applications of IoT systems, the challenges they face, and subsequent solutions to achieve sustainability in IoT operations across different domains.
