LoRa flood messaging: An enabling technology for precision agriculture

On-Farm Experimentation is facilitated by the gathering of sensor data (i.e., soil moisture, soil temperature, and weather measurements) and the passage of that data from its source to the places where it is analyzed, displayed, and employed. One of the many ways to pass data is through long-range radio peer-to-peer (LoRa P2P) radio communication. A LoRa radio broadcast employs unlicensed frequencies. It operates over longer distances than technologies such as Bluetooth. Reception over distances allows for observation without personal presence at the measurement site. This current paper discusses a practical approach to connecting a relatively inexpensive network of sensors associated with precision agriculture so that third-party services and the expenses and complications of LoRaWAN can be avoided. This present work derives from a computer engineering perspective of farming scenarios in which other communication methods may not be cost effective. The accompanying proof-of-concept has the potential to allow on-farm experiments to add sensors when and where needed when remote sensing is deployed. This present work demonstrates single-valued, multi-valued, and multi-layered sensor data. Associated equipment is readily available from reliable suppliers. They are well documented and have an international user community. Programming is supported by established open-access programming environments. Together, these allow even small- scale farmers to employ technology over extended areas and variable remote terrains.