Low-Cost Sensing Solutions for Harsh Environments: Exploring Wireless and Satellite Solutions in Desert Environmental Monitoring

Real-time environmental monitoring in desert areas is often particularly challenging. This paper presents a sophisticated Wireless Sensor Network system comprising WSNs and communication gateways and creating a versatile Internet of Things (IoT) and Satellite Internet of Things (SatIoT) solution adaptable to diverse environmental conditions, including deserts. The WSNs are strategically deployed to measure environmental parameters, while communication gateways collect and transmit the gathered data to a cloud-based data management platform. Multiple communication protocols, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi, LTE, and satellite interfaces, ensure flexibility and adaptability to different deployment scenarios and geographical locations. The transmission algorithm prioritizes network connectivity availability, enabling robust, reliable and stable data transmission to the cloud. This comprehensive system facilitates real-time monitoring, historical trend analysis, and insights into air quality conditions. The low-cost WSNs, with their compact design and energy-efficient features, offer an affordable and valuable tool for widespread deployment in environmental monitoring applications.