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Deployment guidelines

Read the following guidelines for deploying Silvanet Sensors, Mesh Gateways and Border Gateways.

Important

Read this section carefully to achieve effective fire detection. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the Silvanet system not working as designed.

Warning

AFTER SENSORS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, CALIBRATED AND SETTLED, DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE SENSORS AS THIS WILL CAUSE ERRORS WITH SENSOR VALUES AND COULD ALSO RESET THE SENSOR CALIBRATION.

General guidelines

When planning deployments, follow these guidelines for all device types (sensors and gateways) for effective fire detection.

Parameter Guideline Description
Solar panel direction Install devices towards where the sun would be at 12:00 noon Sensors need to be installed facing the sun at 12:00 noon (northern or southern hemisphere) to provide maximum exposure to sunlight (even in cloudy conditions).
Height on trees 3 m from forest floor To protect the sensor from human or animal interference, install the device 3m above the forest floor.
Component ratios One Border Gateway to 20 Mesh Gateways. One Mesh Gateway to 100 sensors. See Device Ratios and Ranges for details.

Sensor deployment guidelines

Parameter Guideline Description
Distance to other sensors 80 m to 100 m apart from other sensors Install sensors to detect environmental air quality in a radius of 80 m to 100 m.
Distance to gateways 1 km from a gateway Install sensors no further than 1 km from either a Border Gateway or Mesh Gateway.
Human activity High 80 m to 100 m / Low 400 m to 500 m Spacing between sensors should be 80 m to 100 m for areas of high human activity, 400 m to 500 m for areas of low human activity.
Density per hectare 0.7/ha to 0.1/ha Based on WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) we recommend 0.7/ha sensors for a dense WUI and 0.1/ha sensors for a sparse WUI. See below for details.
Sufficient sensors Plan for a day's device deployment Ensure you have brought sufficient sensors, treenails, spacers (and crop wire, if required) for the day's installation plans.
Tree selection Select a healthy tree on which to deploy the sensor The user locates a tree closest to the GPS coordinates set for a sensor using the Silvanet Deployment app. Also, ensure the tree is healthy and not likely to fall over or be harvested.
Deployment height 3 m above the forest floor. We recommend installing the sensor on the tree approximately 3 meters above the level of the forest floor. At this height, the device is most sensitive to fire detection and obtains an increased amount of light on its solar cell. Furthermore, at this height it avoids disturbances from most human and animal interactions.
Sensor direction Sensor should face towards the sun (at 12:00 noon). The sensor needs to be oriented towards the direction of the sun (where it would be at 12:00 noon). Use a compass to identify true South (in the northern hemisphere) or true North (in the southern hemisphere). This maximizes the amount of light that hits the solar panel.
Spacers Use the spacer to keep the sensor away from the tree bark. A 2 cm spacer is provided to deploy the sensor slightly away from the trunk of the tree. This avoids direct contact with the tree and allows tree sap to flow down the tree behind the sensor. The spacer also helps keep the sensor away from the moisture in the tree. Furthermore, the spacer allows the sensor to hang vertically rather than laying directly against the bark of the tree which could cause it to tilt at an angle. Also, hanging the sensor vertically improves the radio range of the device.

Mesh Gateway deployment guidelines

Parameter Guideline Description
Distance to other Mesh Gateways 2.0 to 3.0 kms to other Mesh Gateways. The range of a Mesh Gateway to a Mesh Gateway is approximately 2 km to 3 km. The actual range may vary depending on environmental conditions.
Distance to Border Gateway 2.0 km to 3.0 km from a Border Gateway. The range of a Mesh Gateway to a Mesh Gateway is approximately 2 km to 3 km. The actual range may vary depending on environmental conditions.
Deployment height 3 m height on trees or poles When deployed near public areas, we recommend deploying the device at least 3 meters above forest floor or ground level.
Solar panel Unobstructed area around solar panel The device has a large built-in solar panel to provide for the Mesh Gateway's increased power requirements. However, the solar panel needs an unobstructed area to obtain sufficient sunlight to charge the device. You may need to clear some branches away from the solar panel.
Mesh Gateway direction Face the Mesh Gateway towards the sun (at 12:00 noon). The Mesh Gateway needs to be oriented towards the direction of the sun (where it would be at 12:00 noon). Use a compass to identify true South (in the northern hemisphere) or true North (in the southern hemisphere). This maximizes the amount of light that hits the solar panel.
Deployment height Install 3m above forest floor If installed on a tree, install the Mesh Gateway at least 3 meters above the forest floor, depending on available sunlight in the location. At this height, the device has less interference from human or animal interactions.

Border Gateway deployment guidelines

Parameter Guideline Description
Distance to Mesh Gateways 2 km to 3 kms to at least one Mesh Gateway. The range of a Border Gateway to a Mesh Gateway is approximately 2 km to 3 km. The actual range may vary depending on environmental conditions.
Obstructions Needs clear line of site Whether the Border Gateway is installed on a tree or a pole, it needs a clear line of sight to communicate via wireless mobile networks or satellite communication. It also needs an unobstructed area to obtain sufficient sunlight for the solar panel to charge the device in case of mains power failure.
Connectivity Ethernet or mobile connectivity. We recommend providing the device with access to Ethernet connectivity. It also has mobile connectivity.
Deployment height 3 m height on trees or poles When deployed near public areas, we recommend deploying the device at least 3 meters above forest floor or ground level.
Location Deploy at edge of forest Place the device at the edge of a forest and, ideally, near a power supply.
Power source Mains (recommended). Ensure a reliable power source for the Border Gateway. It can obtain power from a mains power source using PoE (Power over Ethernet) or from its solar panel.
Solar panel Directed towards the sun at 12:00 noon Use a compass to identify true South (in the northern hemisphere) or true North (in the southern hemisphere). This maximizes the amount of light that hits the solar panel.