LoRaWAN sensors are connected devices that measure various parameters (such as temperature, humidity, pressure or energy consumption) and transmit this data via the LoRaWAN protocol.
How do they work?
This protocol enables sensors to communicate efficiently with gateways that relay information to dedicated servers or applications. Thanks to their low energy consumption and ability to cover long distances, LoRaWAN sensors are particularly well suited to Internet of Things (IoT) applications, notably in building management, environmental monitoring and connected territories.
The LoRaWAN signal
LoRaWAN optimizes range and energy efficiency by dynamically adjusting the Spreading Factor* (SF) according to the transmission environment. This mechanism ensures reliable transmission, even in the presence of obstacles (to avoid the Faraday cage* effect), while extending the life of sensor batteries. This adaptability is particularly advantageous for projects in existing buildings, where transmission can be complex – in hospital cold rooms, for example. Where a cellular network won’t work.
The Spreading Factor (SF) in LoRa adjusts range, throughput and power consumption. Common values range from SF7 (high throughput, low range, low power consumption) to SF12 (maximum range, low throughput, increased power consumption). For example, a 242-byte message takes 399 ms at SF7 and 2793 ms at SF12. The choice of SF depends on range and energy efficiency requirements.
In the context of the IoT, a Faraday cage protects connected devices from external electromagnetic interference by redistributing electrical charges across its conductive surface. This creates an opposing field that cancels out the effect of external waves, ensuring stable, secure operation of sensitive sensors and IoT equipment.
Energy consumption
The devices have a low power consumption and can achieve a battery life of up to 10 years! This longevity makes them particularly suitable for IoT use cases, where frequent battery replacement is impractical or costly.
Imagine a local authority managing over 300 water meters in its public buildings. If it had to replace the batteries in its sensors every year, this would entail a considerable workload, generating high costs in terms of time and money, not to mention the negative environmental impact of this unsustainable practice and the safety risk associated with such operations.
For example, in the case of remote reading of water meters, or fill level monitoring. A wide range of LoRaWAN sensors sensors are available on the market to monitor a wide range of parameters in private and public buildings and community infrastructures.
The LoRaWAN ecosystem is based on three classes of equipment, each offering a compromise between energy consumption and continuous communication requirements. Class A (ultra-economical) includes sensors that are only activated to transmit data on an ad hoc basis. These sensors are ideal for remote valve management, for example. Class B is a priori the best compromise between battery autonomy and data transmission latency. It can be used for programmed consumption readings, for example. Class C includes sensors that are constantly actively listening. For example, to monitor the temperature of a cold room. In this case, an alert must be triggered in the event of an anomaly. This requires the devices to be battery-powered.
These features enable LoRaWAN sensors to be adapted to a variety of use cases, optimizing their energy consumption according to specific needs.
Why choose LoRaWAN sensors?
Objects that communicate via LoRaWAN offer a number of advantages. They enable data transmission over long distances, which is ideal for large-scale deployments. Designed for optimum energy efficiency, these sensors offer extended autonomy, reducing maintenance requirements, compared with cellular connectivity. Don’t rule out a combination of networks for a successful IoT project!
LoRaWAN sensors have a wide range of applications. In intelligent buildings, they enable air quality monitoring, lighting management and temperature control to improve comfort and energy efficiency. In Industry 4.0, they facilitate the monitoring of machines and production processes to optimize maintenance and productivity. In intelligent agriculture, they enable monitoring of soil and environmental conditions for precise crop management.
Finally, LoRaWAN technology enables bidirectional data transmission (unlike Sigfox technology). In other words, objects collect data, but also receive requests. For example: your thermostatic valve should switch on the heating as soon as it detects a temperature below 19° C.
Data management
To fully exploit the data collected by LoRaWAN sensors, a data visualization or supervision platform is essential. Firstly, because you risk ending up with a mass of encrypted, unreadable and unusable data that will make you regret your investment in these devices.
Object, connectivity and data management platforms offer a unified interface for monitoring, analyzing and interpreting information, facilitating informed decision-making.
Key features
Key features of such a tool include data visualization, which enables graphical presentation of information for rapid understanding of trends and anomalies. Real-time alerts provide instant notification when predefined thresholds are exceeded or critical events are detected. Integration with other systems ensures the ability to connect to various software and services for holistic operations management.
Replace Excel spreadsheets with dynamic, customized dashboards and clear graphical indicators. And don’t forget alert management!
When selecting a management platform for your LoRaWAN sensors, it’s important to consider certain criteria first:
- Compatibility: make sure the platform supports a wide range of sensors and protocols for maximum flexibility. But also that it can interconnect with your business tools (yes, you don’t always have to reinvent the wheel).
- The solution’s scalability must allow it to evolve with your needs, easily integrating new sensors, new sites, new users and even new types of connectivity.
- Last but not least, the security of transmitted and stored data must be guaranteed by robust measures to ensure their integrity and confidentiality (high marks to publishers who host their data in France!).
LoRaWAN sensors, combined with an efficient management platform, offer a powerful solution for collecting and analyzing IoT data. This combination helps optimize operations, improve energy performance and facilitate decision-making, based on reliable and accurate indicators.
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