Low Power IoT Infrastructure for Harsh Environments

Project Overview

Designs resilient, low-power communications for monitoring traps, poaching activity, and sensors across dense jungle terrain in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

This project explores low-power digital transmission techniques that can sustain remote sensing networks in dense jungle environments. The concept demonstrator targets the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, enabling rangers to monitor animal traps, detect unauthorised vehicles, and collect environmental data without frequent battery maintenance.

Key Research Areas:

• Trap Activation Detection - Monitoring weight-based or bait-triggered traps to ensure animal safety without regular physical visits
• Poacher Tracking and Detection - Sensor networks to monitor unauthorized activities, including vehicle detection after 19:00 using vibration sensors, sound detection, or ANPR technology
• Dense Jungle Communication - Primary research focus addressing reliable data transmission in challenging RF environments
• Remote Battery Monitoring - Low-bandwidth heartbeat messages for camera trap battery status on user-defined cycles

The goal is to orchestrate energy-efficient, secure communications that deliver trustworthy data despite harsh RF conditions.

Team

Mark Butterworth

Charith Perera

Omer Rana

Benoit Goossens

Pablo Orozco Ter Wengel

Partners

Danau Girang Field Centre