CE 1 Report: Implementation of an Agricultural Sensor Network

This report, a Competency Demonstration Report (CE 1), details an agricultural wireless sensor network project designed to improve wheat crop yields. The project involved implementing a master-slave sensor network using ATMEGA 328p microcontrollers and sensors like DHT11, LM35, and LDR to collect data on temperature, soil moisture, and sunlight. The collected data was transmitted via a GSM interface to a remote computer for analysis using DSSAT software to predict crop yield. The report outlines the project's objectives, the author's role in implementing the sensor network, and the engineering knowledge applied. It also discusses challenges faced, such as power source and connectivity issues, and proposed solutions, including solar panels and a revised sensor range. The report concludes with a project review, highlighting the author's contributions and the potential for future enhancements like automated irrigation and disease detection. The project aimed to provide farmers with data-driven insights for better crop management and higher yields.

Competency Demonstration Report
Career Episode 1
BILAL ABDULLAH

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project:Agricultural Wireless Sensor Network
Location of the project:[PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration:[PLEASE FILL]
Organization:[PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
Wheat being the most important crop for any country should be cultivated with care. For
this reason we have designed this project module to help the agricultural farmers get a better crop
in the future. The project will be able to compare the yield between the expected and the actual
yielded crop. With the help of soil nutrient analysis the farmers can use the information to know
which type of fertilizers to provide the crops with. The benefits of using a wireless sensor
network in an agricultural field are the high production yield of the crop with a low cost input,
low power consumption and distribution of the gathered information. The project had the aim for
the implementation of a wireless sensor network system in an agricultural field and to analyse
the data collected to understand the extent to which the wheat yield is successful. The project
was also aimed to provide the higher authorities related to agriculture an insight to the extent of
usage of technology in the agricultural field.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
During the development of the project, I had planned out the following objectives to
follow to produce a quality end product from the project:
 To record, manage and broadcast information collected from the sensors attached to the
environment.
 To make the project act as an intermediary gateway for the information being collected to be
sent to a server for collection.
 To analyse the information collected from the crop field to know how the yield of crop is
going to be or how much clarity percentage of the yield is currently being achieved.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
For this project I had taken the responsibility of implementing the master slave module of
the sensor network. The network of the sensors were connected in a star topology to collect the
data from the field and transmit the information back to the master node which would then
transfer the information back to the software system.

CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: The hierarchical division of the project group.
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was responsible for implementing the sensor network to be installed in the wheat field
which would collect information based on the temperature, radiation of the sun received by the
field and the soil moisture which would then be transmitted to the master node in the middle of
the field. The master node will then be transmitting the collected information to the software
module where the information will then be analysed to understand the yield of the crop.
CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
The working module of the project consists of two main components: a network made up
of the architectural motes and an implementation of the mathematical model for the calculation
of the wheat crop yield. The network obtains the reading from the sensors installed in the crop
field. The gateway then receives the data collected and then with the help of a GSM interface the
Head of Electrical
Department Project Supervisor
Project Team
Member 1
(ME)
Project Team
Member 2

information is sent to the remote computer where the data analysis is done. The system we have
created has the function ability of measuring the temperature, soil moisture and the humidity
levels of the atmosphere and then sharing the information with the gateway system with an
effective use of energy. The data is then consolidated and saved in the SQL database in the
system computer. The data is then analysed using DSSAT. DSSAT is a software application
which has the ability to simulate the crop growth based on the information received from the
master slave sensor modules installed in the field. The analysis then can be used to determine the
productivity of the crop. Crop model evaluation is accomplished by inputting the minimum data,
running the model, and comparing outputs with observed data.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
The engineering knowledge’s which I had applied to complete the responsibilities which
I had taken up were taught to me during my bachelor degree. The core technical modules of
circuit analysis and microprocessor programming helped me to complete this project with ease.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
The working procedure of the master slave model of the sensors that has been deployed
in this project is discussed below:

Figure 2: Flowchart of the networks working procedure
The ATMEGA 328p was used to implement the slave nodes of the module. The circuit
diagram which I had followed during the implementation of the slave module is given below:

Figure 3: circuit diagram of the slave node.
The sensors which I had used were DHT11, LM35 and LDR. The slave module had a
433MHz transmitter to transmit the data to the master module. A similar Arduino 328p has been
used in both the slave node and the master node of the sensor module. An Arduino UNO Board
is required to burn the code which would connect the information from the slave modules in the
field and the master slave which would then transfer the information to the system module for
data analysis. The master module also uses a similar receiver module of 433MHz for pairing it
with the slave modules. The block diagram of the working master slave module of the project is
given below:

Figure 4: Block diagram of the master slave module.
The coding had been compiled to collect information and save them inn different format
in the database like temperature, humidity and luminosity. The information would then be
analysed by the system computer to produce a report based on which it can be known if the field
crop is getting the required amount of resource to produce a healthy crop.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
The primary issue which I had faced during the implementation of the project is the use
of a power source for the individual sensors to be installed in the field and the use of a long range
wireless connectivity to connect the sensors to the main processing unit. Using a long range had
to be dropped and a smaller ranged sensor system was installed in the field which would collect
data for a day. The module would then be replaced with a second similar module for data
collection while the previous modules’ information was analysed by the processing unit. The use
of battery was removed by installing a small solar panel to each of the sensors separately. We
had tried to connect all the sensors to a common power source but it would require the use of
longer wires and wires running along the field would cause hassle for the farmers at the field.

CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
For the future enhancement we have thought about implementation of a water flow
controller based on the information collected from the soil analysis. The whole system is to be
changed to automatic for the implementation of irrigation, temperature control and the added
facility of removing diseased crops from the field. Analysing the information on the basis of crop
yield it can be found which crop is suffering and which crop is healthy.
CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
My deepest gratitude goes to our project advisor, Dr. Suleman Mazhar, Assistant
Professor, Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, for his guidance, support, motivation
and encouragement throughout the period this work was carried out. I am also grateful to Ms
Hilal Jan of the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering for her support during our work.
Apart from my advisors, my team mates helped me to produce the best quality project.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
Using precision agriculture and wireless sensor network as a combined unit to produce
the project has been a unique area of research for me. Improvement of agricultural standards and
quality, crop and irrigation management can help the farmers to produce a better crop and have a
larger yield than before. The sensors around the field collect the data that it then transfers to the
storage using GSM. The information is then processed and a prediction model is created which
determines the future yield of the crop.

CE 1.4.2 My contribution to work
My contribution to the project was to design and develop the master slave sensor network
connection which would be installed in the crop field to collect information from the field and
transfer it to the system software module for the further analysis of the information. Apart from
this I had helped my team mates to implement the project. I had also collected the information
from the test run of the project module and made the project report in accordance to the results
collected from the sensor modules.