WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING IN PRECISION VITICULTURE

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) can be successfully used for environmental monitoring. WSNs represent nowadays one of the most exciting technologies. Data acquisition of environmental parameters by means of processing of satellite images to be used in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and image analysis software is a time consuming process. The use of WSN currently promises to shorten time to acceptable margins. This paper shows the results of a research project developed in a vineyard of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, where an experimental network was set up, consisting of 12 nodes with up to four different sensors measuring ambient temperature and humidity, soil moisture (water content and potential), soil temperature, photosynthetically active radiation. Data transmission follows the wireless ZigBee standard, due to its low power needs and simple networking configuration. The nodes can communicate with a gateway unit, which can transmit the information to other computers via LAN, WLAN or Internet. The results achieved in this project could help farmers use this new technology in modern grapevine growing. One key milestone was the development of a computer-based information system: a high-valued decision tool for the grapewine grower. The ultimate aim is to develop a full operational prototype for data acquisition and processing enabling the easy analysis of the data by the farmer. A better choice of grapes, leading to better wines, is the first step that wine-producers should consider, but an important constraint is the ease with which the systems can be deployed in an open field.