1st International IEEE Workshop on WIreless Systems: Advanced Research and Development

Research Article

Sensor Network Deployment For Agronomical Data Gathering in Semi-Arid Regions

  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1109/COMSWA.2007.382457,
        author={Prabhakar  T V and N.V Chalapathi Rao and Sujay  M S and  Jacques Panchard and H S Jamadagni and  Andre Pittet},
        title={Sensor Network Deployment For Agronomical Data Gathering in Semi-Arid Regions},
        proceedings={1st International IEEE Workshop on WIreless Systems: Advanced Research and Development},
        publisher={IEEE},
        proceedings_a={WISARD},
        year={2007},
        month={7},
        keywords={Antenna masts  COTS hardware  MICA2 motes  Sensor deployment  TinyOS},
        doi={10.1109/COMSWA.2007.382457}
    }
    
  • Prabhakar T V
    N.V Chalapathi Rao
    Sujay M S
    Jacques Panchard
    H S Jamadagni
    Andre Pittet
    Year: 2007
    Sensor Network Deployment For Agronomical Data Gathering in Semi-Arid Regions
    WISARD
    IEEE
    DOI: 10.1109/COMSWA.2007.382457
Prabhakar T V1,*, N.V Chalapathi Rao1,*, Sujay M S1,*, Jacques Panchard1,*, H S Jamadagni1,*, Andre Pittet1,*
  • 1: Centre for Electronics Design and Technology Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
*Contact email: tvprabs@cedt.iisc.ernet.in, nvcrao@cedt.iisc.ernet.in, mssujay@cedt.iisc.ernet.in, Jacques.panchard@epfl.ch, hsjam@cedt.iisc.ernet.in, apittet@cedt.iisc.ernet.in

Abstract

We share our experience in planning, designing and deploying a wireless sensor network of one square kilometre area. Environmental data such as soil moisture, temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity are collected in this area situated in the semi-arid region of Karnataka, India. It is a hope that information derived from this data will benefit the marginal farmer towards improving his farming practices. Soon after establishing the need for such a project, we begin by showing the big picture of such a data gathering network, the software architecture we have used, the range measurements needed for determining the sensor density, and the packaging issues that seem to play a crucial role in field deployments. Our field deployment experiences include designing with intermittent grid power, enhancing software tools to aid quicker and effective deployment, and flash memory corruption. The first results on data gathering look encouraging.