1. Potential and Open Issues in Internet of Things for
Development: Wireless Sensor Networks for Irrigation
in Burkina Faso
2016 UNESCO Chair Conference on Technologies for Development: From Innovation to Social Impact
2-4 May 2016 | EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Clémence Ranquet Bouleau1, Tom Müller1, François Ingelrest2, Davis Daidie2, John Carmichael2
1 Cooperation and Development Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
2 Sensorscope Sàrl, Switzerland
Contact: clemence.bouleau@epfl.ch / tom.muller1@gmail.com / davis.daidie@sensorscope.ch
Context and challenges
• Improve water management to
secure yields and optimize water
consumption in regions where water
is scarce
• Environmental data acquisition
How
• Completely autonomous Wireless
Sensor Network (WSN) installed on
a drip irrigation system with three
soil matric potential sensors
(Watermark) to monitor the water
availability in the soil
• Data available in real time on the
web (Figure 1).
• Alarm system by SMS when the soil
dries out below a defined threshold
The Info4Dourou 2.0 research project : WSN to improve irrigation
Wireless Sensor Network
Features
• Radio communication between field stations
transfer data to one base station
• Multi-hop network allows flexibility
• Base station transmits data via GPRS
• Web platform to access real-time data
• Various sensors can be connected
• Solar-powered and adapted to extreme conditions
• Alerts via SMS or email from web platform
• Local LED alarm
Towards the development of affordable stations for Sahel regions
Transfer of “Swiss made” technology
• A solution tailored to the specific needs of users
• Designed and assembled locally for
affordability
• 3 different models will be developed to reach
the widest user-population possible
• Development of low-cost sensors
Features of the 3 models
 Simple user interface
 Adapted to specific users’ needs
 Cost effective
Model 1 - local
 Affordable for all
 Local LED alarm
 Easy to use
Model 2 – connected, isolated
 Alarm via text message
 Remote communication via GPRS
 Data accessible on web interface
SMS
Model 3 – connected, network
 Alarm via text message
 Remote communication via GPRS
 Data accessible on web interface
 Radio communication between
stations
SMS
Creation of a local manufacturing
company in Burkina Faso
Dissemination of the technology and promotion
by local actors to assure long term sustainability.
• Strong partnership with a well implanted
social company in Burkina Faso
• Training of specialists for maintenance and
dissemination
• Microcredits or Pay-as-you-go mechanism
Figure 1: Functioning of the Wireless Sensor Network.
Figure 2: Evolution of the soil water state with sensor-based and
traditional irrigation. For sensor-based irrigation, yield is optimized and
over-irrigation is avoided by irrigating only when the threshold is reached.
Threshold
Results
Figure 3: Mean agronomic indicators for different crops comparing
traditional and sensor-based irrigation. The Water Use efficiency (WUE) or
the ratio of harvest [kg] over water [m3] is greatly improved.
Challenges and improvement
1) Affordable stations for family farmers in Burkina Faso
• Reduction of communication costs
• Reduction of manufacturing and shipping costs
2) Interfaces adapted to different types of users :
experts and non-experts
• Local LED alarm
• Remote communication via GPRS and SMS alarm
• Remote communication with data accessible on web
interface
3) Potential future development
• Automatization of the irrigation (automatic valves)
• Other applications: Weather, wells, etc.
• Smart-phone app with additional meteorological and
agronomic advice
Acknowledgments : SDC Burkina Faso (BF)/ Velux Stiftung (CH)/ Stiftung
Drittes Millennium (CH)/ LCAV EPFL (CH)/ AHEAD group EPFL (CH)/ Sensorscope
Sarl (CH)/ iDE Burkina Faso (BF)/ GEDES (BF)/ DGM (BF)/ DGADI (BF)/ INERA
(BF)/ ACERD Sarl (BF)