Sensor based investigation of Radio refractivity behaviour within troposphere

Project Title

Sensor based investigation of Radio refractivity behaviour within troposphere

Project Area of Specialization Cloud Infrastructure,Project Summary

The project with multiple industry applications aims to investigate different properties and parameters of the Troposphere, using indigenously designed hardware. This will enable a better prediction of radio propagation loss and interference in areas where data will be recorded. The hardware involves a Microcontroller, sensors of measuring meteorological variables, hardware modules for sending the sensed/recorded data to Cloud Infrastructure, sensors for measuring air quality, sensors for measuring altitude, and finally modules to provide connectivity between user and equipment remotely. This enables M2P connectivity. The target is to collect the relevant data at different sites, times, seasons and heights. Currently, we are in a stage to install the prototype at the desired locations. It is planned to utilize concurrent signal strength data from potential frequency bands for NGNs, by involving a telecom service provider.

Project Objectives

The main objectives of the project are to improve the reliability of radio communication prediction and investigate the radio propagation conditions in areas where wireless links have reported issues/problems with availability and/or reliability. The work is based on the fact that there is a lack of such studies throughout Pakistan and hence any radio link planning and analysis is based on simplifying assumptions about the radio refractive behavior of the atmosphere.

This will be done by vertical and horizontal profiling of the Troposphere, through the measurement of meteorological parameters at different locations in the relevant area. Simultaneously, Air Quality will also be monitored through sensors. All this will be enabled through indigenously designed hardware that will be used for data collection related to the atmosphere. 

Project Implementation Method

First of all, the project block diagram was conceived. Then available sensors and other essential modules were identified and shortlisted ones were purchased. All sensors and modules were individually interfaced with the Microcontroller and their operation verified. Thereafter, all the modules were connected simultaneously and the relevant codes were combined into one operational code.  The prototype was tested at different locations. Data was recorded at different locations, indoor and outdoor. After successful operation of the prototype, it has been found that when all sensors are integrated and all sub codes combined into a bigger code, the Microcontroller has Flash memory issues. Hence there is a need to upgrade the Microcontroler to the one with greater memory, in this case Arduino Mega. Four sets of equipment are planned. After testing purposes, they will be placed at either ends of a radio link (at ground and antenna level), to record meteorological and air quality parameters, simultaneously with radio signal strength data. As a precaution, the equipment will be solar powered. The data will be transferred to Cloud via ThingSpeak IoT Server. The concurrent data will be analyzed for correlational study, in attempt to explain the reasons behind the variation in signal strengths at affected link.

Benefits of the Project

The benefits of our project are for both the Telecommunication Industry, as well as Environmental and Meteorological Agencies. Improvement in wireless link budget will help the industry to enhance the quality of prediction. Any correlation with air quality and/or weather parameters will assist in identifying the possible causes of link unavailability/non-reliability. Project is also helpful for weather department as it will act as a Private Weather Station to provide weather reports by collecting and providing high-resolution, local meteorological dataset for different sites, heights and seasons, hence informing about latest behavior of Troposphere. The project aims to assist weather department, environment engineers, policy makers and network planners in marking informed decisions.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final deliverable mainly involves at least one prototype and its replicas; each mainly consisting of Arduino Mega Microcontroller used to control all the connected components. It also uses software which helps to code the Arduino microcontroller to interface the sensors. DHT11 humidity and temperature measurement sensor is being used to measure temperature and humidity in range of 0-50°C and 20-90%RH, BMP280 is a pressure measurement sensor to measures pressure in range of 300-1100 hPa pressure, DS3231 real time clock is timekeeping device used for Data logging. MQ-135 is an air quality sensor, showing high sensitivity to detect different types of gases in air like NH3, NOx, alcohol, Benzene, smoke and CO2. Wi-Fi module esp8266-01 allows the microcontroller to access the Internet and Cloud Infrastructure, using ThingSpeak Server and hence also bringing in elements of Internet of Things, 16x2 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)isused to display the data on-site, SD-card module and Card are used to store collected data on-site. Jumper wires and wire board are used to connect the sensors with Microcontroller and Power supply connections. Solar panels and batteries are planned to provide power to the circuit, when connected on-site.

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemType of Industry Telecommunication Technologies Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud InfrastructureSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate ActionRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	48948
Arduino uno	Equipment	2	820	1640
DS3231	Equipment	4	277	1108
SD-card module & Memory Card	Equipment	4	550	2200
jumper wires and connectors	Miscellaneous	100	5	500
wire board & breadboard	Equipment	4	500	2000
ESP8266	Equipment	4	420	1680
BMP280	Equipment	4	400	1600
DHT11	Equipment	4	320	1280
16x2 Liquid Crystal Display	Equipment	4	530	2120
Arduino Mega	Equipment	4	1930	7720
traveling cost	Miscellaneous	5	1000	5000
soldering iron & wire	Equipment	1	420	420
Solar Panels and Battery	Equipment	4	4000	16000
MQ-135	Equipment	4	420	1680
casing	Miscellaneous	4	1000	4000