Deploy Wildfire Sensors
Install sensors using treenails or garden wire, then let them calibrated for 14 days before they are ready to detect fires.
Sensors are deployed in locations as set in the Site Packet, then calibrated for 14 days before ready to detect fires.
Deployment steps
Deploying sensors involves the following basic steps:
Locate the deployment location.
Scan the QR Code of the sensor to register the device with the Silvanet Cloud.
Verify the deployment with the Site Management app.
Warnings
Practice safety first Keep safety foremost when attaching sensors to trees. Make sure the ladder is stable when leaned against the tree, especially when leaned against thinner trees. Have the second person hold it to stabilize it while climbing the ladder.
Let the sensor calibrate after installation After a sensor has been deployed and calibrated, do not interact with the sensor as this may cause errors with sensor values and could reset the sensor calibration. AFTER SENSORS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED, CALIBRATED AND SETTLED, DO NOT INTERACT WITH THE SENSORS IN ANY WAY.
Select a healthy tree When locating a tree on which to install a sensor, look for indications that the tree may be in poor health. Also ensure the tree is not planned to be cut down or in any way unlikely to survive for the duration of the lifetime of a sensor. Find another tree within the designated radius (20m) of the planned location.
Average time to install a sensor The average time to install sensors is about a half-hour per sensor. This includes finding the tree, setting up the ladder, scanning the QR Code, installing the sensor, then heading to the next deployment location. Plan for a day's device deployment. Ensure you have brought sufficient sensors, treenails, spacers (and garden wire, if required) for the day's installation plans.
Deployment guidelines
| Item | Guideline | Description |
|---|---|---|
Range to Gateway | 1 km | Ensure a Mesh Gateway is within range which is no further than 1 km from the sensor. |
Sensor density | WUI: 0.7/ha to 0.1/ha | Based on WUI (Wildland Urban Interface), Dryad recommends 0.7/ha sensors for a dense WUI and 0.1/ha sensors for a sparse WUI. 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. |
Tree selection | Healthy, stable | The tree should be 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. |
Height above forest floor | 3 m | Install 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 orientation | Sun at 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. |
Spacer usage | Required | 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. |
Attach sensors using treenails (Long term)
Treenails are wooden pegs used to securely attach sensors to a tree. As they are made from wood, they do not affect the health of the tree. Over time the tree's moisture causes the treenails to expand which securely attaches the sensor to the tree.
Drill a 10 mm hole into the tree 3 m from the forest floor on the side of the tree where sunlight would strike the tree at 12:00 noon. The treenails are fed through a loop in the sensor and a spacer and then hammered into the tree.
With the help of an assistant, stabilize the ladder against the tree.
Locate the correct height (3 m) and direction (facing sun at 12:00 noon).
Carefully remove a small portion of the bark with an axe at that location. Try not to excessively damage the tree.
Carefully drill a hole approximately 6-7 cm into the tree using the 10mm drill bit. Do not drill deeper than this recommended depth to prevent unnecessary damage to the tree. When drilling into a hardwood tree, start with a smaller drill bit to drill a pilot hole then drill with the 10mm drill bit to complete the drill hole. Ensure you are using a drill bit for wood.
Insert a treenail through the sensor's loop, slip a spacer onto the treenail and then carefully hammer the treenail into the hole. Ensure the treenail is not damaged by the hammering.
Ensure the sensor is securely deployed to the tree and hanging loosely and vertically.
Continue deploying the remainder of the sensors using the same procedure.
Attach sensors using garden wire (temporary only)
Sensors can be attached using garden wire for short term installations. Garden wire is typically used in agricultural and garden settings such as greenhouses. This solution should only be used for a limited time as the wire will eventually interfere with growth in the tree's girth.
With the help of an assistant, stabilize the ladder against the tree.
Locate the correct height (3 m) and direction (facing sun at 12:00 noon).
Cut a length of garden wire twice as long than the circumference of the tree.
Insert garden wire through the spacer and sensor as shown below.
Tighten the garden wire around the tree. Ensure it is securely attached and that the sensor cannot slip or move.
Continue deploying the remainder of the sensors in the Packet.
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