®
SmartTrap® is a remote sensing and data management system using the LoRAWan IoT network. This system can be incorporated into most existing trap installations. Now, traps can be as “smart” as many other daily devices.
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SmartTrap® system is designed to integrate with existing traps on the ground. SmartTrap® can integrate with other systems such as Google Maps, TrapNZ and ESRI/ArcGIS.
Each SmartTrap® is a single node attached to any existing field unit in the conservation industry. A SmartTrap® can tell if a trap has closed or a mammal has passed. It can also tell you the temperature, humidity, pH, sound pressure level, movement, orientation… or anything!
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Data is collected and sent instantly to a central hub, which populates an online database. Aside from reporting events, the nodes will call in every few hours to report their condition, including battery levels (which last about a year, depending on usage)
Data can be represented in many different ways. We can display real-time events on an online map for both desktop and mobile. Field workers and project managers get instantaneous alerts on their mobile phones and via email when an event occurs.
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In the development phase, we thoroughly tested the system on Aotea - Great Barrier Island. The LoRa technology has performed superbly, but dealing with the bush-clad terrain and weather was challenging. Reliability is essential, so our latest node design with all components is enclosed safely in a tough polycarbonate waterproof case. Four alkaline AA batteries provide the necessary power for years rather than months.
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In 2024, around 18000 nodes had been deployed around Aotearoa, participating in various conservation projects. We have a few trials in various remote islands locally and internationally.
Working with
HOW
IT WORKS
>Your traps are connected to Nodes.
>These nodes tell a Hub when a trap is closed
>The Hub can then tell just you, only people who need to know - or the entire world.
When a trap is sprung, a signal is sent to a base station (LoRa gateway) using the radio network, then uploaded to the internet.
WIRELESS
- 15km + range
- NZ radio compliant
- Internal antenna
- Optimized to work in dense forest and over long open distances.
ENERGY EFFICIENT
Each node can run for five years on batteries.
INSTANT
Get notified by:
- web
- SMS
- Smartphone
MULTIPLE PLATFORM
Integrates with third parties systems:
- ArcGIS
- Google maps
- Trap NZ
PUBLICATION
Power Supply Dynamics for Outdoor IoT Sensors in New Zealand
Conference: 12th Annual Conference of Computing and Information Technology Research and Education New Zealand (CITRENZ 2021)
Authors:
Steve Cosgrove, Matthew Way, Andrew J Hornblow and Ann Way
​The paper documents the authors' power usage experience and hardware-related designs, and concludes with a summary of the leading options available, with indications of the factors to be considered in choosing the options to use for a particular situation. The authors are committed to open standards-based, accessible, and affordable environmental monitoring, as part of national initiatives to restore biodiversity and plan for climate change. Research is presented using an Iterative Action Research model. Using a formal model allows the authors to highlight the common themes in their research while contextualising differences in the way they approach a common challenge. Power requirements are critical to a successful IoT deployment in any environment which doesn't have a continuous power grid available. Following the guidelines presented in this paper will enable a sound platform for building a successful IoT environment.