Hundreds of new sensors on Dublin streets will alert local authorities to breaches in noise levels, pollution and flooding.
The technology will help shape new local laws on noise and environmental issues.
Intel, which makes the sensors, is paying for the pilot scheme to be rolled out in Dublin as a test city.
Technology Editor with the Irish Independent Adrian Weckler said: "If you placed a sensor on a drain, it might be able to give you an early-warning signal when a drain starts to block up or come under pressure (for example if it were becoming flooded)."