OffGrid
Mustafa Erdenay Gürol
Hasan Bahadir Savas
The increasing prevalence of forest fires necessitates efficient early detection systems, with LoRa technology emerging as a leading solution for remote, large-scale environmental monitoring. LoRa (Long Range) operates in unlicensed ISM bands, enabling long-distance, low-power communication ideal for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in forested areas. This cost-effective, energy-efficient approach is supported by accessible hardware like Arduino MKRWAN 1310 modules, which facilitate scalable deployments.
Key advantages of LoRa include its ability to cover distances up to 10 km in rural settings, low power consumption for extended node operation, and easy integration due to minimal infrastructure requirements. Unlike alternative LPWAN protocols like SigFox or NB-IoT, LoRa avoids reliance on proprietary base stations or licensed spectrums, further reducing costs and deployment barriers. LoRa’s flexibility enables custom network designs, such as hybrid mesh-star topologies with ALOHA-based MAC layers, to optimize communication in remote areas.
In the project prototype, LoRa nodes equipped with environmental sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, CO2) were integrated into a network simulating forest fire detection. Testing revealed reliable communication ranges of 350–600 m depending on terrain and spreading factors, with potential for increased robustness by adjusting configurations. Challenges included managing data collisions under the Pure ALOHA protocol and adapting to hardware limitations, such as the need for external gateways for extensive deployments.