A Low-Cost Multi-Purpose IoT Sensor for Biologging and Soundscape Activities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Sensor Technology
• Ecosystem Monitoring

Background:

• Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are rapidly advancing in miniaturization, usability, energy efficiency, and affordability.
• Ground-level ecosystem monitoring at scale is increasingly feasible with sensor grids.
• Acoustic data from surrounding sound is a valuable source for assessing urban and non-urban ecosystem health.
• Current passive acoustic sensors are robust but expensive, limiting widespread deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the hardware of a low-cost, small, multipurpose prototype for environmental monitoring.
• To present a device capable of monitoring diverse environments, including remote locations.
• To showcase a sensor system with onboard processing power and versatile sensing capabilities.

Main Methods:

• Development of a compact prototype featuring a printed circuit board, microprocessor, and local memory.
• Integration of environmental sensors, microphones, optical sensors, and LoRa (Long Range) communication systems.
• Implementation of onboard processing for real-time data analysis and efficient communication.

Main Results:

• Successful deployment of the prototype in various use cases, demonstrating its versatility.
• Effective monitoring of mosquito populations when enhanced with optical sensors.
• Adaptability for ocean activities through the integration of a hydrophone.

Conclusions:

• The developed low-cost sensor prototype offers a viable and affordable alternative for environmental monitoring.
• The multipurpose design enables diverse applications, from terrestrial ecosystem assessment to marine environment observation.
• Onboard processing and LoRa communication enhance the system's utility in remote and challenging environments.