4onse – 4 times open and non-conventional technology for sensing the environment: an integrated low-cost environmental monitoring system (ems) for developing countries

Abstract

4 times Open & Non-conventional technologies for Sensing the Environment (4ONSE) is an ongoing joint research project between University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka and University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland. This project was initiated in a time where the necessity of a low-cost, non-conventional, and precise hydrometeorological monitoring system has been of great demand due to the increased number of weather-related environmental hazards and disasters in Sri Lanka. This work comprises an integrated approach to setting-up an experimental nonconventional Environment Monitoring System (EMS) based on open hardware, open software, open standards and open data which could measure the rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, air temperature, barometric pressure, soil moisture, light intensity, and the water level. With comparison to other available weather stations, this research argues the cost effectiveness of the 4ONSE system, in terms of its technology, hardware and software. Such a fully accessible, royalty-free and low cost system could provide developing countries with accessible technology for the so called ‘Internet of Things’ economy. Even though the use of technologically sound and low system is necessary to monitor the environmental data, less is known about use, validity, accuracy and cost effectiveness of such systems. This research explores the accuracy of 4ONSE’s measurements against those of a reference station and further explores and proves its effectiveness and suitability in terms of environmental monitoring in the context of developing countries.