Open-source Internet of Things remote aquatic environmental sensing. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Trevathan, Jarrod; Schmidtke, Simon
• Is Part Of: HardwareX. Volume 12(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Remote environmental monitoring -- Arduino microcontroller -- I2C sensors -- 3D printing -- Lux -- Temperature -- Turbidity -- Environmental data -- Internet of Things -- Wireless sensor network; Scientific apparatus and instruments -- Periodicals; Laboratories -- Equipment and supplies -- Periodicals; Laboratories -- Equipment and supplies; Scientific apparatus and instruments; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2022.e00336
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-0672

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: This paper details the physical and hardware design of a flexible open-source IoT (Internet of Things) platform for environmental sensing. The application is a remote water quality monitoring buoy that can be deployed in calm, shallow near-shore aquatic environments with fresh or brackish water. The system's development has been informed by experience through conducting multiple actual water quality studies over a prolonged period. The system runs an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller using off-the-shelf Adafruit lux and temperature sensors. A light attenuation turbidity sensor is adapted and integrated into the design. A TinySine 3G GSM module transmits data to a server that is displayed via a ThingsBoard IoT dashboard. The system is stable over time, provides reliable remote sensor readings, has low energy consumption, and is powered by renewable energy (up-cycled batteries). The hardware aspires to be general-purpose so that future environmental monitoring applications can repurpose the electronics by adding new compatible sensors and modifying the physical design to match the requirements.