DEVELOPMENT OF A WIRELESS ATMOSPHERIC PROBE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CHEAP STUDIES

This paper presents the development of a wireless atmospheric probe, designed to assist long-term environmental studies with limited financial resources. The work is based on the concept of Wireless Sensor Networks in which multiple sensors are arranged spatially in a particular region. Facilitating the monitoring of large areas without the need for large physical structures of communication and power, as cables and towers. The prototype, built with cheap material, captures temperature data, pressure and humidity, transmitting this information in real time to a remote receiver via radio frequency to a distance of 1 km. The prototype is also equipped with a photovoltaic system capable of guaranteeing energy independence, an essential factor for long-term studies. To evaluate the efficiency of the prototype, correlation tests were performed with a Metpak station II (Gill Instruments), to simulate the continuous operation of the sensors in situ. The tests show significant correlations between atmospheric pressure variables (98%), relative humidity (87%) and air temperature (97%). The tests ensure a good degree of reliability to the prototype; can serve as an alternative to environmental monitoring projects and Wireless Sensor Networks.