A drone and sensor-based smart forest system using LPWAN for real-time forest monitoring

Abstract

This study focused on exploring and assimilating the limitless possibilities for technological interventions in forest monitoring aimed at festering ecosystem sustainability The specific objectives of the study were: (i) to develop a system requirement specification for the smart forest system, (ii) to develop a system design for the smart forest system and (iii) to develop and test a prototype for the smart forest system. The system requirements specification was obtained through a literature review and interactions with potential system users while the design was developed through the utilization of flowcharts followed by developing and testing of the system prototype. The results show that the major system requirements specifications include traffic requirement, coverage, low power source, LoRa network among other specifications upon which the system design consists of the following main components an automated drone, sensor nodes, gateways among others. The testing of the developed system prototype revealed that the system periodically stores data by using several sensors which sends it to the cloud vital for monitoring the status of vegetation in the forest. It is recommended that the prototype developed further for enhanced smart forest monitoring.