A Wireless Framework for Environmental

Monitoring and Instant Response Alert

Shreedeep Gangopadhyay Molay Kumar Mondal
Dept. of ECE Dept. of ECE
Techno India, Salt Lake Techno India, Salt Lake
Kolkata, India Kolkata, India
[email protected] [email protected]

Abstract—The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the major sensors (“things”) to remote server to speak to the internet and
technological trends which is utilized to monitor natural and share it with others with more power of administration and
human made resources to help in predicting and detecting exigence monitoring capabilities within a network and other joined
events like flood, fire, gas and water leak that can pose an devices, then it is commonly referred as IoT [4].
intimidation to human life. This paper proposes a novel wireless
prototype of a live weather monitoring station that uploads weather Embedded IoT devices like Arduino, Raspberry Pi can be
information received from the array of sensors to cloud database connected to internet using different cloud service providers
from a remote location which can be monitored from anywhere. like Xively, Thingspeak which allow those embedded boards
The weather data is recorded, monitored and processed to forecast to update and retrieve data and visualize graphs, charts and
the different weather events and predict the upcoming disasters. statistical information from IoT devices over cloud with a
The proposed battery powered cost-effective system can be installed unique API key and a channel/feed ID assigned to one. Fig.1
anywhere within a locality or building to serve the maximum shows the comprehensive architecture of IoT framework with
people. It is composed of three major modules-the wireless sensor Thingspeak cloud service.
module (IEEE802.15.4/Zigbee), the Arduino microcontroller with
Ethernet/Wi-Fi network connectivity and an android app for users.
Instant alert messages will be received to phone via text, e-mail and
tweet notification through this app when something goes haywire.
The user can view weather forecast for his location that he can
share with the entire world and access archive of his station's
current/historical data including graphs and charts to view climate
trends.

Keywords- Arduino, IoT, Thingspeak, Weather Station, Wireless

Sensor Network.

I. INTRODUCTION
A weather station is a setup well-equipped with instruments
and sensors to measure different atmospheric conditions to
forecast the weather information like temperature, pressure,
humidity, wind speed and direction, rainfall etc. and predict the
upcoming natural calamities after studying the trend of climate Fig. 1 Architecture of IoT framework with Thingspeak cloud
change. So the grandness of a live weather station is limitless In this paper an embedded live weather station is developed
providing a plethora of information which are very essential in which can be installed within a building apartment or in a
innumerable fields straddling from local disaster monitoring to locality to monitor, update and forecast the weather
global level alertness to weather researchers to industry and so information an alert the users about the upcoming disasters
on. from time to time. The proposed battery powered unit is well
Wireless Sensor networks (WSNs) are the technology that equipped with the array of sensors to measure temperature,
is the combination of low cost and low power array of sensors humidity, pressure; dew point and light intensity with rainfall
and embedded unit (microcontrollers) that could provide and wind speed are the simulated parameters. The prototype
ubiquitous computing [1] to detect the environmental changes, unit is installed at the rooftop well equipped with an open-
and log a chunk of collected data to a centralized remote server source microcontroller Arduino UNO [5] and Xbee transceiver
wirelessly. The term “Internet of Things” (IoT), coined by [6] to send the measured weather data. The measured data is
Kevin Ashton in 1999 [2], has been in use for several years and received by the Xbee receiver (IEEE 802.15.4 standard)
continues to be of interest, specifically when it comes to module attached with another Arduino which is connected to a
technological progress [3]. If the scope of a WSN is enhanced Wi-Fi modem via an IEEE 802.3af standard Ethernet Shield or
from logging the chunk of data received from the array of IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module (esp8266) interface.
978-1-4673-6621-2/16/$31.00 © 2016 IEEE
 The amassed device data is uploaded to Thingspeak [7] and
Xively [8] cloud database. Continuous alert messages are
received over user’s smartphone in the form of SMS, e-mail
and tweet notifications though the designed Android app that
allows user to view and monitor his real time local weather
data and forecast with ease. If something is amiss or goes
haywire, instant alert message will be sent to the corresponding
user’s phone, mail and social networking platform like Tweeter
to intimate the user about the current status of weather and
prediction of forthcoming disasters. A separate IoT framework
is also designed for Arduino without Ethernet/Wi-Fi shield to
integrate with Thingspeak cloud services with data uploading
and retrieving facility on Visual Studio platform using C#
serial client application. Finally a Google cloud interface is
designed where the sensor values are saved in Google
spreadsheet with time stamp for future reference. Fig. 2: The Functional block diagram

B. Design amd development

II. RELATED WORKS
1) Sensor network with Xbee interface: The prototype
There are several WSN design schemes available to log the unit well equipped with an open-source microcontroller
sensor data. An example of WSN systems is illustrated in Arduino UNO and Xbee transreceiver is installed at the
automation in construction [9] where the authors explain a rooftop surface. So the measured data is transmitted by the on
web-based building environmental monitoring system using board Xbee module to another Xbee module hooked up with
WSN. A substantial example of integrating Thingspeak cloud Arduino located inside the building to receive the data. The
with a wireless framework is explained in automotive sensor array consists of DHT11 for detecting temperature and
monitoring systems [10] where the data collected from an array
relative humidity, LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) for light
of sensors are updated over Thingspeak cloud using Beagle
Bone Black board. There has been an excellent tutorial type intensity and BMP180 for atmospheric pressure respectively.
material [3] which clearly explains how to get started with The sensors interfaced with Arduino UNO will be collecting
Thingspeak flowed by Arduino IDE (Integrated Development the data relentlessly.
Environment) and Thingspeak integration. An online tutorial 2) Embedded microcontroller: This unit is placed
on live weather station [11] enriches how to integrate Arduino somewhere inside the building which is not more than 100
UNO with Thingspeak cloud without using any internet shield meter away from the actual weather module installed at the
through a C# client application. In another example of WSN rooftop. It is composed of two parts: Arduino microcontroller
[12], authors describes weather cum disaster alert system using
and Xbee interface. Arduino Board is used initially which
Zigbee/IEEE802.15.4 standard that sends the sensor data to a
does have the chip ATMEGA328 as a processor, controlled by
local SQL (Structured Query Language) based server to
intimate the status. A robust example of flood forecasting the computer via USB (Universal Serial Bus) port. The open-
model using WSN is described [13]. A similar flood early source environment makes it easy to write code and upload it
warning system, based on SMS and web is proposed [14] that to the I/O board. The hardware design architecture and the
uses WSN and java programming module. However, very few prototype code is designed and developed on custom made
of them have been successful in updating the collected data Arduino board consisting of Atmega328 microcontroller with
over cloud and letting the other client nodes access those data only required components to facilitate programming that’d
as and when required. Secondly, none of them allow the user cost only a little over $3 US dollars as opposed to the $15 that
access the system to immediately know the current status when the Arduino Uno board sells for.
he is away from his locality or home. Thirdly, it’s convenient
to make system computer independent and let the user access 3) Network connectivity: Both the Ethernet module and
the system from mobile phone sitting from anywhere. A good serial Wi-Fi module which are used in this project to
example of instant alert generation scheme of natural disaster is communicate between the microcontroller and the cloud
available [15] which uses Arduino GSM (Global System for storage are cheap as compared to Arduino Ethernet and Wi-Fi
Mobile Communications) shield to send the alert notification to shield. ENC28J60 Ethernet module [16] connects Arduino
the users. board to the internet with a RJ45 cable. It supports IEEE
802.3af standard which can be accessed from the newest
III. SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION library EtherCard.h available at github [17]. On the other hand
esp8266 [18] is a newly developed IEEE 802.11 based serial
A. Overview Wi-Fi module which can be powered up at 3.3Volt dc supply
The block diagram of the proposed novel wireless separately.
framework of a live weather monitoring station and disaster
alert system is shown in Fig. 2.
 4) Real time sensor integration with cloud: The Arduino oldest cloud database Xively (formerly known as Pachube)
uses either wired or wireless connectivity to feed the sensor where couple of sensors values are uploaded to Xively
data to online cloud storage medium. The cloud platforms channel with its unique API key and feed ID. Fig. 6 shows
utilized for uploading and storing the data are Thingspeak and channel settings of Xively cloud storage designed for weather
Xively. Both of them generate an API key for individual user station.
and a channel or feed ID as well. Fig.3 shows the various
7) Visual Studio interface and Google cloud: An
services provided by the Thingspeak cloud platform.
alternative PC dependent approach is described here for
testing and simulation purpose using C# serial client
application that integrates Arduino with Thingspeak cloud
without requiring any Ethernet (wired) or Wi-Fi (wireless)
interface to update and retrieve the sensor data over cloud. In
addition to that, the Values received from all the sensors will
be stored a text file on one drive cloud which can easily
accessed from any computer, mobile phone and tablet and is
required for future reference to keep a track of all the data
Fig. 3: Thingspeak cloud interface updated into cloud storage even when in offline state and
The API key is used in the Arduino code written in make decision about the weather trend and disaster alert. Fig.
Arduino IDE to update and retrieve the data to the cloud 7 shows the C# interface for the weather monitoring station.
server. Once an API key is assigned to a user then Thingspeak
allows user to create his own channel consisting of eight fields
of data, three location fields and one status field. A channel can
be public or private type that shares a set of APIs for reading
data and for writing data. Anyone can read Public channel data
without any key, but for writing the data, one needs an API key
specific to that channel. So data is stored securely from a node
and can be monitored by several other client nodes. Fig. 4
shows the channel settings in Thingspeak. However due to the
heavy bandwidth usage, one can update any channel not faster
than fifteen second at a time.

Fig. 6: The channel settings of personal Xively account

Fig. 4: Channel setting in Thingspeak

5) Android app as user interface: An android app is
designed in MIT App Inventor platform which lets user design
and develop android app without having much programming
background. This app is to be installed in user’s android phone Fig. 7: The Visual Studio interface with Arduino
to receive the regular weather information and alert
notifications at times. The user will be connected to the
weather station and able to receive all kind of notification as IV. TESTING AND RESULTS
long as the mobile internet works regardless of the present The complete hardware and experimental setup of the
location of the user. prototype are shown in Fig. 8 and 9. A Wi-Fi modem is used to
provide the network environment after allocating an IP address
6) Updating Data to Xively cloud: Along with the to the system (as shown in Fig. 10).
Thingspeak cloud, an initial attempt is made to the one of the
 Fig. 8: Senor Module with Xbee installed at the rooftop
Fig. 11: Weather data updated to Thingspeak cloud
From the Fig.13 it is clearly visible that all the sensor
values are getting updated to Thingspeak in real time. Fig. 12 shows the weather data getting updated over
Thingspeak allows user to display the acquired values in both Thingspeak using C# serial client application designed in
chart and coloured wheel over time. These values will be Visual studio platform which doesn’t require the use of any
updated and displayed relentlessly as long as Arduino is internet shield with Arduino. .
connected to internet over Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity. Here
simulated values of wind speed and rainfall are sent over all the
sensor values to Thingspeak for testing purpose.

Fig. 12: Thinhspeak integration using C# client app

Fig. 9: Experimental setup installed inside the room
Fig. 13 shows the Google spreadsheet in which three
sensors values are being uploaded at an interval of less than
five seconds.

Fig. 10: IP address allocation to Arduino Ethernet/Wi-Fi module

Fig. 13: The sensor values are logged in spreadsheet
 Next few figures (Fig. 14 and 15) depict how the alert and Several testing has been performed to ensure the system
status messages are generated from the system to notify the would execute and produce the prediction by analysing the
concerned user when something is amiss. collected data. The Table I show the decision taken from
observing the collected set of weather data.

TABLE I. COLLECTED WEATHER DATA

Parameter Collected Status
Values

Relative Humidity (%) >85% Very High

65-85% High/
40-60% Moderate
Minimum temp (⁰C ) 27-29 Warm
22-27 Moderate
<20 Low
Maximum temp (⁰C ) 35-40 Very hot
30-35 Moderately hot
25-30 Pleasant
Fig. 14: E-mail notification to indicate the live weather
Rain Fall (mm) >=300 Heavy Rainfall
100-300 Moderate rainfall
<50 Low rainfall

Fig. 17 shows the data pool of weather data collected

almost over a year from different sensors which are then put
into a mathematical model designed in MATLAB to process
and predict the weather forecast and alert notifications prior to
actual emergency. The prediction column generates the
weather forecast and it corroborates the exact forecast acquired
from geostationary tagged data.

Fig. 15: Tweet notification to indicate an event

The Fig. 16 shows the result of the android app designed

for user to get notified as and when required. It shows the use
entire weather data by retrieving the Thingspeak channel.

Fig. 17: Collected weather data in spreadsheet for analysis

Fig. 16: The user android app for Live Weather Station
 Table II shows the comparison and performance estimation the precision and accuracy towards the development of a real
of different cloud platform used. It is clear that Thingspeak time weather monitory and seamless response alert system. In
offers more services and security to the users at the cost of future, to enhance the flood and storm forecasting, the
speed due to its high bandwidth usage. collected local weather data will be compared with the satellite
image and global forecasts using different Numerical Weather
Prediction (NWP) models like Rainfall-runoff modelling [18]
TABLE II. COMPARISION BETWEEN CLOUD PLATFORMS
and Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model. The
Performance Cloud Platform geostationary tagged weather data can be added up with the
and Services Thingspeak Xively Google cloud local weather information captured from sensors using GPRS
provided
Data updating fifteen second twelve second < five second
(General Packet Radio Service) technology to make the system
rate a perfect emblem of live weather monitoring unit which is also
Security High Moderate Moderate helpful in saving the human lives and natural and manmade
API availability Publicly Not publicly Publicly resources to a great extent.
Available available available
Instant Tweeter Yes, every Not available Not available
alert after a min now
Instant e-mail Without Not available Without Failure REFERENCES
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