Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi

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dc.contributor.authorMafuta, Million
dc.contributor.authorZennaro, Marco
dc.contributor.authorGombachika, Harry
dc.contributor.authorChadza, Timothy
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:04:19Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:04:19Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractThis paper demonstrates how an irrigation management system (IMS) can practically be implemented by deploying a wireless sensor network (WSN). Specifically, the paper describes an IMS which was set up in Manja township, city of Blantyre. Deployment of IMS in rural areas of developing countries like Malawi is a challenge as grid power is scarce. For the system to be self-sustained in terms of power, the study used solar photovoltaic and rechargeable batteries to power all electrical devices. The system incorporated a remote monitoring mechanism through a General Packet Radio Service modem to report soil temperature, soil moisture, WSN link performance, and photovoltaic power levels. Irrigation valves were activated to water the field. Preliminary results in this study have revealed a number of engineering weaknesses of deploying such a system. Nevertheless, the paper has highlighted areas of improvement to develop a robust, fully automated, solar-powered, and low-cost IMS to suit the socioeconomic conditions of small scale farmers in developing countries.
dc.identifier.apacitationMafuta, M., Zennaro, M., Gombachika, H., & Chadza, T. (2013). Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi. <i>International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks</i>, 2013(4), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMafuta, Million, Marco Zennaro, Harry Gombachika, and Timothy Chadza "Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi." <i>International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks</i> 2013, 4. (2013): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMafuta, M., Zennaro, M., Gombachika, H. & Chadza, T. 2013. Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi. <i>International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks.</i> 2013(4):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1550-1329
dc.identifier.issn1550-1477
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Mafuta, Million AU - Zennaro, Marco AU - Gombachika, Harry AU - Chadza, Timothy AB - This paper demonstrates how an irrigation management system (IMS) can practically be implemented by deploying a wireless sensor network (WSN). Specifically, the paper describes an IMS which was set up in Manja township, city of Blantyre. Deployment of IMS in rural areas of developing countries like Malawi is a challenge as grid power is scarce. For the system to be self-sustained in terms of power, the study used solar photovoltaic and rechargeable batteries to power all electrical devices. The system incorporated a remote monitoring mechanism through a General Packet Radio Service modem to report soil temperature, soil moisture, WSN link performance, and photovoltaic power levels. Irrigation valves were activated to water the field. Preliminary results in this study have revealed a number of engineering weaknesses of deploying such a system. Nevertheless, the paper has highlighted areas of improvement to develop a robust, fully automated, solar-powered, and low-cost IMS to suit the socioeconomic conditions of small scale farmers in developing countries. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 4 J1 - International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2013 SM - 1550-1329 SM - 1550-1477 T1 - Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi TI - Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMafuta M, Zennaro M, Gombachika H, Chadza T. Successful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi. International Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks. 2013;2013(4):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34482.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Computer Science
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceInternational Journal of Distributed Sensor Networks
dc.source.journalissue4
dc.source.journalvolume2013
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/150703
dc.subject.otherArticle Subject
dc.subject.otherDOAJ:Computer Science
dc.subject.otherQ
dc.subject.otherQA71-90
dc.subject.otherElectronic computers. Computer science
dc.subject.otherDOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject.otherQA1-939
dc.subject.otherScience
dc.subject.otherQA75.5-76.95
dc.subject.otherMathematics
dc.subject.otherInstruments and machines
dc.titleSuccessful Deployment of a Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture in Malawi
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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