Gateway‐node wireless data collection system for environmental sensing

Advances in open‐source microcontroller (MC) technologies have created opportunities for development of low‐cost real‐time environmental data collection systems. An inexpensive system based on the ARDUINO‐MC was developed using a gateway‐node architecture enabling us to collect environmental sensor data across climates and soil types. Printed circuit boards and breakout modules made assembly quick and easy. Nodes interfaced with serial digital interface at 1200 Bd time domain reflectometry soil water sensors, which require higher input voltage and use more complex communication than other sensors commonly used with MC‐based data loggers. Maintaining time synchronization between the nodes and gateways was critical to their ability to communicate and limit field traffic. Power consumption and supply issues and the inability to regularly monitor units led to data loss. Incorporating cellular capability to the gateway gave researchers and technicians near real‐time access to data and opened opportunities for their use in automated databases and visualization dashboards. This paper describes the design, testing, and use of the system during its first two field seasons. This system exemplifies how researchers can economically collect environmental data from remote locations by leveraging the potential of microcontrollers in custom data acquisition systems. Arduino sketches and other materials are available at https://github.com/ArduinoSoilH2O.