Development of an open-source cloud-connected sensor-monitoring platform

Authors: Fisher, Daniel; Fletcher, Reginald; Anapalli, Saseendran; PRINGLE III, H - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Advances in Internet of Things
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2017
Publication Date: 12/1/2017
Citation: Fisher, D.K., Fletcher, R.S., Anapalli, S.S., Pringle III, H.C. 2017. Development of an open-source cloud-connected sensor-monitoring platform. Advances in Internet of Things. 8:1-11.

Interpretive Summary: Rapid advances in electronics and communications technologies offer continuously evolving options for developing sensing and monitoring systems. Expanding communications options, including wireless, cellular, and internet networks, provide the ability to be connected and share information over any distance in real time. The open-source concept of collaboration and sharing of ideas offers advantages including low cost, ease of use, extensive array of electronic technologies offered, and technical and programming support. Research scientists and agricultural engineers with the USDA ARS Crop Production Systems Research Unit and Mississippi State University at Stoneville, MS, undertook a project to develop a basic data-collection platform using open-source hardware and software and internet cloud components. The simple and inexpensive platform was used to develop an instrument system to remotely monitor soil-moisture status in agricultural fields. The monitoring system transferred data regularly from the field to an internet website via the cellular communications network. The system performed reliably over an entire growing season with no maintenance requirements. The basic platform can be modified to suit a user’s specific requirements, and offers options for automated collection, viewing, and sharing of remotely sensed data.

Technical Abstract: Rapid advances in electronics and communications technologies offer continuously evolving options for sensing and awareness of the physical environment. Many of these advances are becoming increasingly available to “non-professionals,” that is, those without formal training or expertise in disciplines such as electronic engineering, computer programming, or physical sciences, via the open-source concept. The open-source concept of collaboration and sharing of ideas offers advantages including low cost, ease of use, extensive array of electronic technologies offered, and technical and programming support. Expansion of communications infrastructure, including wireless, cellular, and internet networks, continues to provide greater ability to be connected and share information over any distance in real time. A basic data-collection platform using open-source hardware and software and internet cloud components was developed and discussed. The simple and inexpensive platform was used to develop and implement an instrument system to remotely monitor soil-moisture status in agricultural fields. The monitoring system transferred data regularly from the field to an internet website via the cellular communications network. The system performed reliably over an entire growing season with no maintenance requirements. The basic platform can be modified to suit a user’s specific requirements, and offers options for automated collection, viewing, and sharing of remotely sensed data.