Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2025

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

First Advisor

Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan

Abstract

The rising global demand for food, driven by population growth, alongside a declining rural workforce, presents a great challenge for agriculture. Precision agriculture, which relies on the widespread adoption of smart farming technologies, is anticipated to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Emerging technologies, such as machine vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), offer innovative and promising solutions to address these challenges. This study focuses on LoRaWAN, a prevalent Low-Power Wide-Area-Network (LPWAN) IoT technology, examining its application in crop and livestock farming as well as its associated cybersecurity challenges. LoRaWAN IoT systems were constructed for three application scenarios: (1) crop and soil monitoring in a field; (2) environmental monitoring in greenhouses; and (3) manure and water level monitoring on a swine farm. In the greenhouse monitoring system, sensors were deployed to measure leaf moisture, temperature, soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, humidity, and air temperature. These sensors provide critical data to optimize irrigation, nutrient management, and overall plant health. The swine farm monitoring system includes two ultrasonic sensors for manure pit level detection and one for water table monitoring, contributing to efficient waste management and water conservation. The wheat field monitoring system integrates two sensors measuring humidity and temperature, enabling continuous tracking of environmental conditions affecting crop health and disease risks. The implementation of these systems has significantly reduced labor dependence while improving management efficiency. This study, focusing mainly on the waste management system, demonstrates that the integration of LoRaWAN-based sensors significantly enhances the accuracy and efficiency of waste management systems while simultaneously reducing labor costs and operational efforts. The total operational cost of the system remains below $1,000, with minimal ongoing maintenance expenses. Moreover, the system is estimated to have an operational lifespan of up to 10 years, highlighting its cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability. These LoRaWAN demonstration projects will support agricultural IoT education, research, and outreach initiatives at South Dakota State University.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright