LoRa sensors used in soil moisture monitoring network in the Hague - Case Study
Project
Monitoring of Lange Vijverberg
Client
Performed by
Eijkelkamp Soil & Water
Country
the Netherlands
Background to installing the monitoring network
The Lange Vijverberg street in The Hague, located next to the Hofvijver court pond opposite the Binnenhof inner court, which is the seat of the Dutch government, consists of a tram rail route surrounded by many old linden trees. In 2016, the renovation of the Lange Vijverberg was begun. This redesign brought about changes in the habitat of the linden trees. The municipality of The Hague, therefore, wanted to gain insight into the change in soil moisture. This had to occur in an easy, wireless and economical manner. That’s why Eijkelkamp Soil & Water opted to set up a LoRa monitoring network of soil moisture sensors for this project. At a dozen trees, sensors have been placed at 75 and 150 centimetres deep. These sensors transmit the change in soil moisture to an online platform every 3 hours. Both the operator and the client can observe the change in soil moisture on this platform, and adjust the irrigation plan as needed.
What is LoRa?
LoRa is a new way of communicating, where small amounts of data are sent via the LoRa network to a website page. The costs of this method of communication are very limited as compared to existing GPRS subscriptions.
How does Eijkelkamp Soil & Water make the difference?
Gateway, LoRa transmitters with 20 sensors, and an online platform for visualizing the data and operating the sensors.