Performance Evaluation of Long Range (LoRa) Wireless RF Technology for the Internet of Things (IoT) Using Dragino LoRa at 915 MHz

Internet of Things (IoT) is a developing concept that introduces the network of physical sensors that are interconnected to each other. Within this smart environment, smart objects use the interconnectivity to process, communicate, and exchange data among themselves without any human interaction. Some sensors are wirelessly connected among themselves and to the internet. Currently, IoT applications demand substantial requirements in terms of Radio Access Network (RAN) such as long-range outdoor coverage, environmental factors, obstructions, interference, power consumption, and many others. Also, the current wireless technologies are not able to satisfy all these requirements simultaneously. Therefore, there is no single wireless standard that would predominate the IoT. However, one relevant wireless radio solution to IoT is known as Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), which is one of the Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies [1]. LPWAN has appeared as a significant solution to offer advantages such as long-range coverage connectivity with low power consumption, an unlicensed spectrum, and affordability. Most likely LoRa with the inherent long-range coverage and low power consumption features will become the “go-to” technology for IoT applications [2]. LoRa is a novel solution that is attracting considerable attention for both academic and industrial purposes [3, 4]. For that reason, the proposed research entails the feasibility analysis and performance evaluation of LoRa communication focusing on the physical layer, which involves the radio configuration parameters such as Spreading Factor (SF), Signal Bandwidth (BW), Coding Rate (CR), and payload size. This experimental work includes connecting to different IoT servers in the cloud, such as “The Things Network” (TTN), “ThinkSpeak”, and integration with “Cayenne”. Therefore, 348 (120 first + 228-second test) different configurations are carried out among SF, BW, CR, and payload in order to measure the impact on Time-on-air (ToA). When a payload size of 25 bytes (2 sensors) was connected to the ThingSpeak server, only 57 out of 120 configurations met the FCC’s requirement on ToA (\u3c 400 ms) [5]. It was observed that the number of configurations reduced further to 23 when the payload size was increased up to 118 bytes (10 sensors)

IoT network : design and implementation

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de mestre em Engenharia Eletrónica e de TelecomunicaçõesIn recent years a new concept known in the anglo-saxonic language as IoT (Internet of Things) has gained prominence in the world of technology. IoT's main objective is to allow various types of physical objects, such as cars, houses and cities to transmit the information they obtain autonomously through sensors, to platforms that receive and use them intelligently, forming a network of interconnected objects, without any kind of human intervention. To understand this concept, a study was made of the networks that underlie this concept, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area Networks), and in more detail to LoRa technology. In order to estimate the coverage of this technology, a theoretical planning was performed using the OH model (Okumura-Hata), and based on the results obtained, an electromagnetic simulator (CloudRF), was used, which allowed to estimate in more detail the coverage in the area of study. In order to validate the results obtained theoretically and by simulation, a set of meas-urements was made in the field in some points of the city of Aveiro. From the global analysis of the obtained results, it was concluded that LoRa technology is in fact quite feasible to be used in an implementation of an IoT network in an urban environ-ment. The OH model when adapted with the appropriate coverage margins for the type of study environment allows a good approximation in terms of outdoor coverage. Despite being very sensitive to movements, it was possible to obtain distances up to 2 km in a mostly urban prop-agation environment, and more than 5 km in a more open area with a greater line of sight.Nos últimos anos um novo conceito conhecido na linguagem anglo-saxónica como IoT (In-ternet of Things) ganhou destaque no mundo da tecnologia. A IoT tem como principal objetivo permitir que diversos tipos de objetos físicos, como por exemplo carros, casas e cidades consi-gam transmitir a informação que obtêm de forma autónoma através de sensores, para platafor-mas que as recebem e as utilizam de forma inteligente, moldando assim uma rede de objetos interligados, sem existir qualquer tipo de intervenção humana. Para se perceber este conceito, foi efetuado um estudo às redes que servem de base a este conceito, as redes LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), e em mais detalhe à tecnologia LoRa. De forma a estimar a cobertura desta tecnologia, foi efetuado um planeamento teórico utilizando o modelo de OH (Okumura-Hata), e com base nos resultados obtidos, recorreu-se a um simulador electromagnético, o CloudRF, que permitiu estimar mais em detalhe a cobertura para a zona de Aveiro. De forma a validar os resultados obtidos teoricamente e por simulação, foi efetuado um conjunto de medidas em campo em alguns pontos da cidade de Aveiro. Da análise global de resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que a tecnologia LoRa é de facto bas-tante viável para ser utilizada numa implementação de uma rede IoT num ambiente urbano. O modelo de OH quando adaptado com as margens de cobertura adequadas para o tipo de ambi-ente em estudo permite obter uma boa aproximação em termos de cobertura outdoor. Apesar de ser bastante sensível a movimentações, a tecnologia LoRa através das medidas realizadas permitiu obter coberturas até 2 km num ambiente de propagação maioritariamente urbano, e superiores a 5 km numa área mais aberta e com uma maior linha de vista.N/

Using a private 5G network to support the international broadcast of the coronation of HM King Charles III

Wireless cameras for news contribution feeds regularly use “bonded-cellular” devices, which connect to and split the encoded video across multiple public mobile network SIMs. However, in high demand density environments with large crowds, the public networks can quickly become saturated and unable to sustain the necessary bitrates to support high-definition video. To overcome this and provide uncontested wireless connectivity, the largest pop-up 5G standalone non-public (private) network of its type was deployed outside Buckingham Palace and along The Mall to Admiralty Arch to support news contributions for domestic and foreign broadcasters at the Coronation of HM King Charles III, without changing the contribution workflow. (This paper first appeared in the Proceedings of the 2024 NAB Broadcast Engineering and Information Technology Conference, and is reprinted with permission. https://nabpilot.org/beitc-proceedings/

Empirical verification of network coverage plans for LoRaWAN IoT infrastructures

openThe Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) has rapidly grown in recent years, leading to the adoption of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) in important infrastructures such as energy, water and gas distribution systems. LPWAN technologies, which operate in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum, offer a promising solution for implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI). This thesis focuses on a key challenge in deploying AMI LPWAN, which is strategically placing and installing gateway devices to ensure optimal coverage for smart meters. By addressing this challenge, the research aims to optimize LPWANs for the efficient implementation of AMI in large-scale critical infrastructures.The Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) has rapidly grown in recent years, leading to the adoption of Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) in important infrastructures such as energy, water and gas distribution systems. LPWAN technologies, which operate in the unlicensed radio frequency spectrum, offer a promising solution for implementing Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI). This thesis focuses on a key challenge in deploying AMI LPWAN, which is strategically placing and installing gateway devices to ensure optimal coverage for smart meters. By addressing this challenge, the research aims to optimize LPWANs for the efficient implementation of AMI in large-scale critical infrastructures

AIS data to inform small scale fisheries management and marine spatial planning

This study was funded by the 2014/15 European Fisheries Fund ‘Evidence Gathering in Support of Sustainable Scottish Inshore Fisheries’ (Grant Number: MI-NC-3-0093). Mark James, Tania Mendo, and John Thompson were supported by the MASTS pooling initiative (The Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland). Their support is gratefully acknowledged. MASTS is funded by the Scottish Funding Council (grant reference HR09011) and contributing institutions.Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) are collision avoidance devices used on-board both commercial and leisure craft. These systems report the position, track and speed of the vessel through Very High Frequency radio transmissions which are accessible to any suitable receiver. This paper explores the potential to use AIS data to inform small scale fisheries management and marine spatial planning. First, the propagation and reception of the line of sight AIS transmissions was modelled around the coast of Scotland to identify areas where the use of AIS may be compromised. Using open source Geographic Information System and relational database software, computationally efficient methods of processing and analysing AIS data were explored. Three months of AIS data derived from 274 Scottish small scale fishing vessels were used to provide spatio-temporal analyses of trip duration and distance travelled, location of fishing activities, and vessel dependency on fishing grounds. The coverage, opportunities and challenges of using AIS are discussed together with broader applications and future developments.PostprintPeer reviewe

Analisis Perbandingan Kinerja UFMC dan OFDM dengan Modulasi 64-QAM dan 256-QAM pada Sistem Komunikasi 5G

Hadirnya teknologi 5G memungkinkan adanya evolusi teknik transmisi data baru. OFDM merupakan skema modulasi multicarrier pertama yang telah digunakan pada sistem komunikasi digital. Adapun skema modulasi UFMC yang menjadi salah satu rekomendasi skema modulasi multicarrier baru untuk sistem komunikasi 5G yang menerapkan pemfilteran per sub-band alih-alih menggunakan cyclic prefix. Untuk itu penelitian ini akan melakukan penilaian secara komparatif antara sistem komunikasi dengan OFDM dan UFMC menggunakan modulasi 64-QAM dan 256-QAM untuk mengetahui performansi terbaik pada sistem komunikasi 5G dengan parameter umum sesuai dengan Key Performance Indicators untuk physical layer (PHY) 5G, yaitu BER dengan target 10^-4 terhadap SNR, PAPR terhadap CCDF, dan besar emisi OOB pada PSD. Hasilnya menunjukkan sistem komunikasi dengan OFDM lebih baik dibandingkan dengan UFMC menggunakan modulasi 64-QAM dengan nilai SNR sebesar 22,14 dB dan nilai PAPR sebesar 9,03 dB. Nilai performansi OFDM juga semakin baik ketika digunakan pengkodean LDPC, dengan nilai SNR yang didapat adalah 21,83 dB. Sementara, untuk sistem komunikasi dengan UFMC hanya unggul pada penggunaan filter per sub-band yang dapat mengurangi emisi OOB mencapai nilai -80 dB. ----- The existence of 5G technology allows for the evolution of new data transmission techniques. OFDM is the first multicarrier modulation scheme that has been used in digital communication systems. The UFMC modulation scheme is one of the recommendations for a new multicarrier modulation scheme for 5G communication systems that applies filtering per sub-band instead of using cyclic prefixes. For this reason, this study will carry out a comparative assessment between communication systems with OFDM and UFMC using 64-QAM and 256-QAM modulation to determine the best performance on a 5G communication system with general parameters according to the Key Performance Indicators for the 5G physical layer (PHY), namely BER with a target of 10^-4 to SNR, PAPR to CCDF, and OOB emission size to PSD. The results show that the communication system with OFDM is better than UFMC using 64-QAM modulation with an SNR value of 22.14 dB and a PAPR value of 9.03 dB. The OFDM performance value is also getting better when LDPC coding is used, with the SNR value obtained is 21.83 dB. Meanwhile, the communication system with UFMC only excels in the use of filters per sub-band which can reduce OOB emissions to a value of -80 dB

Vehicle route optimization system with stochastic demands including predictive models

[ES] Durante los últimos años se ha producido un incremento en el número de ciudades que están incorporando nuevos sistemas basados en el concepto conocido como Internet de las Cosas o Internet of Things (IoT) para, por un lado, obtener nuevos datos acerca de la ciudad y, por otro, a partir de estos, ofrecer nuevos servicios y optimizar el consumo energético. Estas ciudades se mueven hacia un paradigma de ciudad inteligente o Smart City, cuyo principal objetivo es conseguir ciudades más sostenibles y que constituyan un mejor lugar donde vivir. Entre todas las aplicaciones que han surgido para Smart Cities, cabe destacar las destinadas a la logística inteligente, que buscan el ahorro y la eficiencia energética en el transporte realizado por las flotas de vehículos. Unido a esto, nuevos sensores han emergido para llevar a cabo proyectos que incorporen el concepto de IoT y la conexión de cualquier objeto de la vida diaria a Internet. Estos sensores o nodos se agrupan en las conocidas como Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) o redes inalámbricas de sensores. Dichas redes pueden desplegarse tanto en entornos rurales como en urbanos y suponen la infraestructura básica para la toma de datos en aplicaciones para Smart Cities. En la presente tesis se realiza una investigación sobre el uso indicado de los sensores junto con las WSN para la toma de datos en sistemas de recogida de desechos. Asimismo, el procesamiento de los datos obtenidos por dichas redes y la extracción de patrones que permitan modelar su comportamiento ofrecen una valiosa información que puede emplearse más tarde para mejorar otros sistemas, como, por ejemplo, sistemas de optimización de rutas de vehículos. En este trabajo de tesis se aborda la utilización de modelos de predicción para predecir la demanda y que esta información pueda proporcionarse a otros sistemas para su posterior uso. Por último, los datos obtenidos a través de una red de sensores y la información extraída gracias a los modelos de predicción habilitan la inclusión de nuevos métodos de optimización de rutas de vehículos en un sistema de recogida inteligente de desechos o Smart Waste Collection System en inglés. La optimización de las rutas de vehículos en este tipo de sistemas se formula en la literatura como un problema de rutas de vehículos o Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), en el que generalmente sus parámetros son de naturaleza estocástica, pero con frecuencia son tratados de forma determinista. En esta tesis se aborda la resolución de problemas VRP que incluyan incertidumbre en la demanda de sus clientes. Para ello, se emplean nuevas metodologías propuestas en la literatura como Simheuristics y se propone incluir modelos de predicción con el fin de obtener mejores resultados.[EN]In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cities that are incorporating new systems based on the concept known as the Internet of Things (IoT) to, on the one hand, obtain new data about the city and, on the other hand, from these, offer new services and optimize energy consumption. These cities are moving towards an intelligent city paradigm called Smart City, whose main objective is to achieve more intelligent and sustainable cities that constitute a better place to live. Among all the applications that have arisen for Smart Cities, it is worth highlighting those aimed at intelligent logistics, which seek savings and energy efficiency in transport performed by vehicle fleets. Along with this, new sensors have emerged to carry out projects that incorporate the concept of IoT and the connection of an object of daily life to the Internet. These sensors or nodes are grouped into what are known as Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). These networks can be deployed in both rural and urban environments and provide the essential infrastructure for data collection in applications for Smart Cities. In the present thesis, a research is conducted on the indicated use of the sensors together with the WSN for the data collection in waste collection systems. Likewise, the processing of the data obtained by these networks and the extraction of patterns that allow modelling their behaviour offer valuable information which can be used later to improve other systems such as routing optimization systems. This thesis work deals with the use of prediction models to predict demand and then provide this information to other systems for later use. Finally, the data obtained through a network of sensors and the information extracted through predictive models enable the inclusion of new methods of vehicle routing optimization in an intelligent waste collection system or Smart Waste Collection System. The optimization of vehicle routes in this type of system is formulated in the literature as a Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), in which its parameters are generally stochastic in nature, but are treated deterministically. This thesis deals with the resolution of VRP problems that include uncertainty in the demand of their customers. To this end, new methodologies in the literature such as Simheuristics are used and, in this work, modifications are proposed including prediction models in their use in order to obtain better results

Recolha de dados meteorológicos utilizando LoRa

Atualmente, é cada vez mais importante a recolha de dados meteorológicos, para fins de estudo das alterações climáticas e evolução do clima para efeitos de agricultura, aviação, entre outros. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma pequena estação meteorológica com a finalidade de recolher vários parâmetros como temperatura, humidade, precipitação, pressão atmosférica, velocidade e direção do vento de zonas remotas. A tecnologia utilizada foi o LoRa, uma vez que permite um alcance de vários quilómetros. Os dados eram transmitidos para uma gateway LoRa, havendo a necessidade de estudar o efeito do meio de propagação na potência recebida. Para efetuar a comunicação dos dados, esta tecnologia tem por base várias peças chave: baixo consumo energético; baixa taxa de transmissão; elevada sensibilidade do recetor; comunicação a longas distâncias. De modo a averiguar a tecnologia LoRa, foi desenvolvido um sistema de medição capaz de aferir os parâmetros de qualidade da uma ligação ponto a ponto. Este sistema serviu para realizar vários ensaios de propagação de modo a avaliar o comportamento da atenuação do sinal em vários tipos de ambientes de propagação tais como: linha de vista; obstrução por colina; vegetação; regiões montanhosas. Os resultados destes ensaios foram avaliados para tratamento estatístico e comparação com os modelos teóricos e empíricos. Por fim, foi testado o funcionamento da estação meteorológica na recolha dos dados e realizada uma comparação com sistemas de referência de duas estações meteorológicas mais próximas, pertencentes ao Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera.Currently, it is increasingly important to collect meteorological data, in order to study climate change and climate evolution for the purposes of agriculture, aviation, among others. In this work, a small meteorological station was developed so that it would be possible to collect various parameters such as temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction in remote areas. The technology used was LoRa, as it allows a range of several kilometers. The data was transmitted to a LoRa gateway, with the need to study the effect of the propagation medium on the received power. To carry out data communication, this technology is based on several key elements: low energy consumption; low transmission rate; high sensitivity of the receiver; communication over long distances. To verify the LoRa technology, a measurement system capable of measuring the quality parameters of a point-to-point connection was developed. This system served to carry out several propagation tests to evaluate the signal attenuation behavior in several types of propagation environments such as: line of sight; hill obstruction; vegetation; mountainous regions. The results of these tests were evaluated for statistical treatment and comparison with theoretical and empirical models. Finally, the operation of the meteorological station was tested in data collection and a comparison was made with the reference systems of two nearest meteorological stations, belonging to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera

Diseño e implementación de una herramienta de predicción de coberturas radioeléctricas basada en el entorno de programación GUIDE de Matlab

El objetivo del TFG es el diseño e implementación de una herramienta de predicción de coberturas radioeléctricas basada en modelos digitales del terreno. La herramienta se implementará bajo el entorno de programación GUIDE de Maltab, siguiendo unas pautas específicas que permitan la incorporación posterior de modelos de propagación específicos basados en la descripción del perfil transmisor-receptor. Asimismo, la herramienta ha de facilitar la introducción de nuevos patrones de radiación de las antenas a utilizar en los transmisores (estaciones base).Medrán Del Río, JL. (2016). Diseño e implementación de una herramienta de predicción de coberturas radioeléctricas basada en el entorno de programación GUIDE de Matlab. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/74888.TFG