While modern day sensors have come a long way, current data collection techniques have not. Generally in rural settings, collection of sensor data is usually accomplished manually; wasting time and efficiency especially where multiple sensors are installed. By implementing a wireless network in conjunction with sensors, we can improve the efficiency of the collection process and enhance the way data can be processed.

The group aims to have several working water level sensors, each able to send data over a wireless link to a base station several kilometres away. Each sensor station measures the water level at a set interval, or when prompted by the user at the base-station. The base-station collects data from multiple sensor units and will display the information on a LCD screen. We aim to have the base-station networked to a PC; thereby providing remote access for users via the Internet.

Sensor stations will utilise a combination of Atmel’s ATMega series microcontrollers and water pressure sensing units. The sensor and base-station will have duplex communication, implemented using Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) & Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for error detection over the 433MHz frequency range. The base-station will incorporate an embedded system in addition to a touch-screen LCD and a RF unit. A PC-stored SQL database will be updated by the base-station allowing storage of past readings, and facilitating easy web access.

While this system is aimed to be used in rural applications, it could also be adapted to assist other fields through the substitution of the sensor type, for example air quality sensing in public safety

By using the wireless network with the water level sensors, this device could be very useful in rural applications. The data that is recorded from the water tank is passed back to the base station, so the user can observe the level of the water without travelling to and looking in the tank. It is also envisioned that this device should be used by non technical people, so the operation of the device will be user friendly and zero maintenance.

Associate Professor Graeme Pendock, Jeffrey Bienvenu, Andre Webster, Dr Peter Dower
Dr Brian Krongold, Thitinan Trongpitakchasoen