[Esip-envirosensing] Fwd: [ECOLOG-L] LoRa or hardwires field sensors?

[Renee F. Brown]

EnviroSensors and LoRa experts, would some of you like to address Zach’s questions below? This topic aligns well with discussions in our last call & ESIP Winter Meeting re: the trade-offs between instrumentation with a low entry price point vs. more expensive solutions (e.g., Campbell) that generally have less problems and require less maintenance over the long-term (my preference/bias).

Renée


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Renée F. Brown
Information Manager, McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER
Director of Technology, Sevilleta Field Station
University of New Mexico Department of Biology
Albuquerque, NM 87131 USA
rfbrown at unm.edu<mailto:rfbrown at unm.edu>


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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Zach Brown" <privateemail74077 at community.esa.org<mailto:privateemail74077 at community.esa.org>>
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] LoRa or hardwires field sensors?
Date: February 14, 2020 at 8:06:07 AM MST
To: "ECOLOG-L at community.esa.org<mailto:ECOLOG-L at community.esa.org>" <ECOLOG-L at community.esa.org<mailto:ECOLOG-L at community.esa.org>>
Reply-To: ECOLOG-L-moderator at community.esa.org<mailto:ECOLOG-L-moderator at community.esa.org>

  UNM-IT Warning: This message was sent from outside of the LoboMail system. Do not click on links or open attachments unless you are sure the content is safe. (2.3)
I’m in the process of setting up a network of environmental monitoring equipment and climate manipulations in the Australian Alps as part of the Australian Mountain Research Facility (AMRF.org.au<http://AMRF.org.au>). We’re a team of ecologists and natural resource managers interested in knowing how alpine grasslands will be affected by climate change, fire, etc. As part of our remote monitoring, we’ll have soil moisture and temperature sensors distributed throughout many 1-hectare plots, each with 4G comms, logger and other sensors. These sites have wild temperatures, precipitation, etc. I have recently discovered LoRa as an inexpensive option for such sensor arrays compared to Campbell or other brands that focus on durable, hardwired options. I’m curious to know what stories you field ecologists have regarding use of LoRa probes in rugged field conditions for multi-year deployments. Here is one such example https://www.tindie.com/products/tinovi/lorawan-soil-moisture-temperature-ec-sensor/ My instincts tell me to go for the tried and true hardwired options despite the high cost. But I recognise that with LoRa instead of hardwired probes, the project could either put out HEAPS of sensors out or alternatively save a fortune. Thoughts? Is LoRa a few years off of having high-quality, durable options that can withstand the elements for years on end? I would appreciate your stories.
Zach Brown
Senior Technical Officer
Research School of Biology
Robertson Building 46, East 312A
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2600
T +61 2 52545
M 046 772 0031
email: Zachary.Brown at anu.edu.au<mailto:Zachary.Brown at anu.edu.au>
website: https://www.amrf.org.au/
[AMRF logo resize]



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