IoT + CONNECTIVITY
Useful farm data. A clear connection path.
Connected farming starts with defined devices, sensible measurement locations, reliable local operations, and a secure route from field readings to decisions.
THE PROPOSED ARCHITECTURE
Low-power sensing. Local safeguards. 5G backhaul.
Weather, soil, crop environment, water, and tractor data.
LoRaWAN / wired interfaces / local Wi-FiCollect readings. Keep operating safeguards at the farm.
Local logging + approved controller interfacesA separate router connects the farm network to the internet.
Coverage, SIM, antenna, and carrier plan requiredAuthorized users review trends, alerts, and equipment status.
Public website remains read-onlyInternet availability is not a safety interlock. Roof movement, irrigation limits, pump protection, and tractor controls must remain under approved local systems.
DEFINED DEVICES
A practical device register.
| Device | What it does | Reference / selection | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weather station | Air temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, and light, depending on the selected model.Field microclimate; a roof-safety sensor requires its own approved placement. | Seeed SenseCAP ONE / selected weather configuration | LoRaWAN or wired interface to gateway |
| Soil / substrate probes | Root-zone moisture and temperature; EC only with a suitable calibrated probe.Sample representative irrigation zones and relevant root depths. | Seeed SenseCAP-compatible probes | LoRaWAN node or RS485 interface |
| Protected-house sensors | Crop-level temperature, relative humidity, and selected light measurements.Separate propagation and fruiting-crop monitoring locations. | Selected environmental sensor nodes | LoRaWAN / wired |
| Water instrumentation | Tank level, flow, pressure, and operating status.Verify water availability and compare planned with measured irrigation. | Specified level, flow, and pressure devices | Pulse / analogue / RS485 to controller |
| Valve and pump controller | Zone commands, schedules, limits, and fault states.Local dry-run protection and maximum-run safeguards. | Integrator-selected industrial controller | Wired local control; gateway telemetry |
| Tractor telemetry | Approved operating hours, battery state, energy, and service signals.Model-specific read-only interface with manufacturer approval. | SiFT-supported interface, to be confirmed | Approved vehicle interface to edge gateway |
| Solar and energy meter | Charging energy, generation, and selected system status.Separate tractor energy from irrigation and other farm loads. | Compatible inverter / energy meter | Approved meter interface / local network |
| Field cameras | Visual crop context, not automatic proof of disease or yield.Privacy-conscious placement with access controls. | Optional network cameras | PoE Ethernet / local Wi-Fi |
| LoRaWAN gateway | Collect low-rate sensor traffic and forward authorized messages.Enclosure, radio band, antenna, and network-server setup required. | SenseCAP M2 Multi-Platform or approved equivalent | Ethernet to router; model options vary |
| 5G backhaul router | Connect the local network to internet services.Coverage survey, suitable SIM, antennas, and 4G fallback plan. | Separate carrier-compatible industrial 5G router | 5G / 4G cellular WAN |
SEEED TECHNOLOGY REFERENCE
Start with field-ready sensing.
Seeed’s agriculture sensing solution describes field microclimate, soil monitoring, and traceability applications, with LoRaWAN and 4G communication options. Exact measurements and operating ratings depend on the selected device.
A gateway connects sensors to the data network; it is not the same device as a 5G cellular router. Confirm the network server and dashboard integration for the exact gateway version.
A SAFE DIGITAL BOUNDARY
Keep the public website out of equipment control.
PUBLIC WEBSITE
Explain and demonstrate
Public visitors see farm information and clearly labeled sample readings. No equipment-control endpoints are included.
PRIVATE OPERATIONS
Authorize and audit
A future operations dashboard needs authentication, access roles, audit logs, and data-quality checks.
LOCAL SYSTEMS
Continue safely offline
Approved controllers, interlocks, and manual override govern operation during loss of internet.
START A CONVERSATION
Define a connected system around the farm’s real needs.
Explore demonstration opportunities, training, technology integration, or a farm model for your community.