Want to monitor soil moisture remotely from anywhere in the world, even if there is no cellular data coverage?
We have developed an affordable satellite IoT-enabled wireless monitoring system by combining our ISHKUR gateway with an affordable satellite modem to develop a new LoRa-to-Satellite gateway. The gateway can be used with DurUntash Lab wireless sensor nodes to collect sensor data (e.g. soil moisture) in remote agricultural areas.
The wireless sensor network with satellite IoT-enabled gateway works in star topology and collects data from DurUntash wireless sensor nodes with a range of ~1.2 mi (2 km). Sensor data is sent to satellites and stored in the cloud. Currently, the SHUHSAN CVI-Wireless application can be used to securely connect to our cloud-based database and download sensor data.
In this article, we will provide information on the DurUntash Lab 1) "local" wireless monitoring system (no remote access), and 2) satellite IoT-enabled wireless monitoring system.
Local Wireless Monitoring System (Sensor Network)
By combining DurUntash Lab ISHKUR LoRa-to-WiFi gateway, wireless sensor nodes, and research-grade sensors, you can set up a local wireless sensor network in star topology for your field, orchard, greenhouse, nursery, grow room or even garden. You will own a maintenance-free local network without having to pay any subscription fees. In addition, you do not need Internet access and the network can operate fully independently. The network can easily cover a radius of ~1.2 mi (2 km) line-of-sight.
We carry two types of long range wireless sensor nodes:
single-channel (ISHTAR 1P-LR) with only one sensor port, and
4-channel (SHINAK 4P-LR) with four sensor ports.
You may use a combination of single- and 4-channel nodes in your network. Both types of sensor nodes come with rechargeable batteries, which can be recharged using standard USB solar chargers. The 4-channel sensor nodes come with a larger battery pack that can power the unit for up to 12 months. The number of sensors depends on your budget and number of irrigation zones. An irrigation zone includes all plants with the same water needs (irrigated at the same time). We recommend installing at least two sensors per irrigation zone to deal with the natural plant/soil variability.
You can start with installing only one wireless sensor node and add more nodes over time. The gateway automatically detects new wireless sensor nodes that are added to the network, are on and have the correct settings. With sensor measurement interval of 60 min, it is possible to have about 100 sensors in the same wireless network. This is a safe number to avoid data packet loss, and in practice more sensors can be supported. As long as the sensors are installed correctly and that is almost everything(!), the rest is pretty straightforward.
The SHUHSAN CVI-Wireless application is used to connect to the gateway and plot sensor data in real-time. The app can connect to the ISHKUR gateway over WiFi or USB port. The only way to remotely access sensor data that is collected by the local wireless sensor network is to use a third-party software such as VNC® viewer that allows for remote desktop connection. You will also need to have access to the Internet and an in-field computer.
The local wireless sensor network works perfectly fine if you have an operation near populated areas, or having remote access to your data is not a concern. However, if you own an orchard or greenhouse in the middle of nowhere with no cellular coverage, a satellite IoT-enabled wireless sensor network might be a better solution.
Satellite IoT-enabled Wireless Monitoring System
We have upgraded our wireless monitoring system (explained above) with a new satellite IoT connectivity solution that will give you remote access to sensor data. It does not matter where your agricultural operation is or where you live. You'll have access to your sensor data 24/7 from anywhere in the world!
A LoRa-to-Satellite gateway, which is a combination of our ISHKUR LoRa-to-WiFi gateway and a satellite modem, and a user interface are part of this solution. Using the new gateway, DurUntash wireless sensor networks can connect to the Internet anywhere in the world. The LoRa-to-Satellite gateway collects sensor data from DurUntash long range (LoRa-enabled) wireless sensor nodes and sends aggregated data directly to satellites.
Affordable solution
In addition to the satellite IoT-enabled gateway, a wireless monitoring system with Satellite IoT connectivity needs a data plan. This new satellite Internet is much more affordable than any existing legacy satellite, or cellular IoT connectivity options available in the market and will provide Internet connectivity no matter where you live at an extremely low cost. The cost of the data plan is about one-tenth of similar commercially available connectivity solutions specially when the data plan is taken into account.
The base data plan allows for sending 750 messages (192 bytes each) per month. You can subscribe to additional data plans (stack the plans) up to a maximum of 3,000 message per month per gateway. Just to give you an idea what this means, one data plan is enough to send data from up to twenty four (24) soil moisture sensors (per network) if you only intend to use the data for irrigation scheduling.
Remote access to data using SHUSHAN CV application
The satellite IoT-enabled wireless monitoring system is comprised of: 1) wireless sensor nodes that are installed in the field (orchard, greenhouse, etc), and 2) user interface that is used to download and monitor sensor data remotely. No form of Internet access or cellular data coverage in the field is required. This means you can install your sensors and sensor nodes literally anywhere you want. However, you still need Internet access to be able to download sensor data from the cloud storage using DurUntash user interface.
Currently, SHUSHAN CVI-Wireless application for Windows is the only way to access your data. Our team is also working on developing a web interface to add to the flexibility of accessing remote data.
A solution for both indoor and outdoor agriculture
You can install the gateway in both remote and urban areas without any connectivity concern. So far, the satellite modem has been devalued by users in different countries. We have even installed the satellite IoT-enabled wireless monitoring system in a backyard garden and easily getting RSSI values of -100 or better, and SNR values reaching -3 near buildings.
It is also possible to use the LoRa-to-satellite gateway with wireless sensor nodes that are installed indoors. Depending on the type of barriers (e.g. walls) between the nodes and gateway, the indoor network range might not match that of an outdoor network. The gateway must be located in the open and within the range of indoor wireless sensor nodes.
Application Areas
Our focus at DurUntash Lab is "smart farming" using sensor data-driven IoT-enabled decision support systems. We develop all the components including sensors, data acquisition equipment, software and mathematical models in house. The key agricultural application areas that we're currently covering (using our products) include:
Soil/substrate moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling
Nutrient management
Fruit and crop loss management
Another key area that we will soon be covering is "frost management", which will heavily rely on the satellite IoT-enabled wireless monitoring system. Please stay tuned for more information!