Gateway‐node wireless data collection system for environmental sensing

• Published in: Agrosystems, geosciences & environment geosciences & environment, 2021, Vol.4 (4), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Thompson, Alondra I., Schomberg, Harry H., Evett, Steven R., Fisher, Daniel K., Mirsky, Steven B., Reberg‐Horton, S. Chris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Circuit boards; Communication; Crops; Data acquisition; Data collection; Data loss; Environmental monitoring; Farms; Information retrieval; Integrated circuits; Interfaces; Microcontrollers; Moisture content; Nodes; Power consumption; Printed circuit boards; Real time; Sensors; Sketches; Soil types; Soil water; Synchronization; Technicians; Time synchronization
• ISSN: 2639-6696; 2639-6696
• DOI: 10.1002/agg2.20219

Advances in open‐source microcontroller (MC) technologies have created opportunities for development of low‐cost real‐time environmental data collection systems. An inexpensive system based on the ARDUINO‐MC was developed using a gateway‐node architecture enabling us to collect environmental sensor data across climates and soil types. Printed circuit boards and breakout modules made assembly quick and easy. Nodes interfaced with serial digital interface at 1200 Bd time domain reflectometry soil water sensors, which require higher input voltage and use more complex communication than other sensors commonly used with MC‐based data loggers. Maintaining time synchronization between the nodes and gateways was critical to their ability to communicate and limit field traffic. Power consumption and supply issues and the inability to regularly monitor units led to data loss. Incorporating cellular capability to the gateway gave researchers and technicians near real‐time access to data and opened opportunities for their use in automated databases and visualization dashboards. This paper describes the design, testing, and use of the system during its first two field seasons. This system exemplifies how researchers can economically collect environmental data from remote locations by leveraging the potential of microcontrollers in custom data acquisition systems. Arduino sketches and other materials are available at https://github.com/ArduinoSoilH2O. Core Ideas Microcontrollers provide low‐cost options for remote environmental sensing. Gateway‐node network architecture reduces cost of wireless data logging. Printed circuit boards reduce assembly time and increase production capability. Stable wireless communication and low power consumption are key factors to success.