An Efficient MI Waveguide Based Underground Wireless Communication for Smart Irrigation

Underground (UG) wireless communication is challenging as the medium is heterogeneous composition of soil, rock, water, organic matter etc. The UG channel is subjected to change according to the location and weather conditions. Unlike the electromagnetic (EM) wave technique, Magnetic Induction (MI) technique can propagate in the dynamic UG channel with less path loss. In this paper, analyses on the performance of the underground channel using EM, MI and Magnetic Induction waveguide (MIWG) is carried. Path loss analysis of the channel is carried using the three techniques. The analysis is carried by varying the coil parameters like number of turns, radius of coil, angle of coil, wire resistance, relay interval etc. the optimization is also carried. The simulation results show that path loss in UG channel is reduced by 46% when MI waveguide technique is used instead of EM waves.