The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term given to the concept of “smart” internet connected devices. We are investigating how this makes sensor networks more standardised and interoperable – so becoming more “future-proof” and reusable.

The Feshie project was a proof of concept test to use Internet of Things standards technology to study the environment, with trial deployments on the Cairngorm plateau for observing hydrological, peatland and frozen ground processes. Ongoing research in the New Forest is refining many elements of the hardware, software and data techniques.

By using the Internet Protocols throughout the sensor network we gain the benefits in terms of scalability, integration, management and robustness. To get to this point we had to develop and test the 868MHz low power radio over a large area, test early versions of emerging standards and make test hardware/sensors. The proof of concept project has laid the foundations for new IoT sensing research as well as showing its potential for use in the earth sciences. It is not only the data infrastructure that needs improvements in the future but the node hardware and software. Our systems using ARM Cortex processors with a specialist ESN board are a step in the right direction. You can watch our 2017 AGU talk and an IPv6 talk at the IET and see the papers section for our 6LowPAN at SAI, Sensys 2016 and peat investigations.

Funding included the NERC Technology Proof of Concept programme.