Abstract

This is the third article of the #ReincarnaTECH Series that aims to report the Launch version of the Circular Potential Information Platform (CP-IM) which operates as an essential segment of the Reincarnate project. While CP-IM will be created as dynamic integration of several distinct components, the launch version consists of the integration of its two core components, the DMO RE Suite real estate information management platform and the Mainflux open-source IoT Platform. This article summarises Mainflux open-source IoT Platform and its operation within CP-IM in this phase of the project.

 

The Mainflux IoT platform

In the first article of these series, we learned that the CP-IM Platform consists of the integration of its two core components, the DMO RE Suite real estate information management platform (explained in the previous article) and the Mainflux open-source IoT Platform. Now it’s time to learn what this second component is about! 

Mainflux is an open source IoT platform (Apache 2.0 licence) with the complete full-scale capabilities for the development of Internet of Things solutions, IoT applications and smart connected products. Built as a set of microservices containerized by Docker and orchestrated with Kubernetes, it serves as software infrastructure and middleware which provides data aggregation/collection and management, data storage and connectivity management, event management, device management, and digital twin and application enablement.

Mainflux technologies and features

  • Microservice Architecture
  • Golang and Go Kit
  • NginX
  • TLS/DTLS Termination
  • Reverse Proxy for UI
  • Security Mutual TLS Authentication with X.509 Certificates
  • Client-to-server authentication using client-side X.509
  • Storage 
    • SQL database for structured data
    • NoSQL database for Telemetry:
    • InfluxDB
    • MongoDB
  • Messaging with supported protocols (connectors)
    • HTTP
    • MQTT
    • WS
    • CoAP
    • LoRaWAN
    • and standards: JSON, JWT 14 and SenML
  • System provisioning
    • Provisioning things, where things represent devices or applications connected to the platform.
    • Provisioning channels, where channels represent communication pathways between devices and/or applications. 
  • Deployment:
    • Native
    • Docker containers (compose provided)
    • Kubernetes scripts

Figure 1: Mainflux IoT Platform Architecture

 

The role of the Mainflux open-source IoT Platform within CP-IM is to provide real-time data communication pipelines from physical data sources (such as devices, sensors, and actuators) and virtual data sources (generally, in the cloud or on-premises applications that gather or generate data).  It also must perform the function of a centralised location for the storing and retrieval of data in a secure manner in order to fulfil the data requirements of the Digital Twin platform as well as other CP-IM segments.

A unified option for granting exclusive access to all systems inside the Mainflux platform as well as unified management of platform users was also necessary. In this regard, security measures and procedures must be implemented to prevent unwanted and unauthorised data and communication pipelines access and eavesdropping.

In conclusion, the communication pipelines require a centralised point of access, as well as a uniform method of data retrieval, which must be accessible from both the outside and the inside of the IoT Platform.

In that sense, the Mainflux IoT Platform is highly secure covering these three points: communication pipeline topology, secure access and retrieval of data, and a uniform point and means of data access.


Do you want to know how the different applications are being integrated and will work on the CP-IM platform?

Do not miss the next article of our Technical Blog Series! 

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Background note

Reincarnate aims at advancing circular economy practices within the European construction industry and enabling to significantly maximise the life cycle of buildings, construction products and materials, reduce CDW by 80%, increase the reusability of buildings, construction products and materials and, as a result, lower the sector’s emissions by 70%. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101056773.

 

Disclaimer

This document reflects only the view of the author(s) and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained.