Get started tutorial (Gen 3)
Learn how to plan for and deploy Gen 3 Silvanet Gateways and Wildfire Sensors with this step-by-step tutorial.
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Learn how to plan for and deploy Gen 3 Silvanet Gateways and Wildfire Sensors with this step-by-step tutorial.
Last updated
Was this helpful?
This tutorial guides you through the basic steps of planning a Site, preparing to deploy Silvanet devices and then deploying each Silvanet device type in a forest.
These steps do not require an actual deployment of devices. In fact, you can choose any forest in the world to prepare an example Packet.
After completing this tutorial, you should know how to:
Use the Site Management app to estimate the required Gateways and Sensor to cover a Site
Use the Deployment app to deploy Silvanet devices in a Site
View the status of deployed Silvanet devices in the Site view of the Site Management app
You need the following before beginning this tutorial:
Login credentials to the Site Management app
At least one Site provided in the Site Management app
The Silvanet Deployment app installed on a smartphone
The Planning tool is part of the Site Management app. It is used to estimate the amount and location of Border Gateways, Mesh Gateways and Wildfire Sensors to cover a Site.
Your user credentials (Username and Password) give you access to the Dryad Site Management app (dryad.app) and the Dryad Deployment app.
Only users with Admin rights or Resellers can grant access to the Silvanet apps. For more information, see Add new users.
Go to dryad.app. Dryad recommends using Chrome.
Select Login and then in the Sign In form, enter your username and password.
In the Site Management app, select Sites view. The Site is where you prepare the deployment plan.
If no Site appears, select Create Site.
Give the Site a name, select a region, then select Create Site.
See Also
For more information, see Sites view.
Use the Planning tool to estimate coverage requirements for your site. It is accessed within the Sites view page.
Draw paths (hiking, roads, power lines of higher Sensor density), areas (wide areas of lighter Sensor density) and connectivity zones (mesh network of gateways).
The result is a total number of Gateways and Sensors needed to cover the Site.
Run the Planning tool: From the ellipse menu (top-right), select Planning tool.
Find a deployment location: Use the Search form to find any suitable location as this is only an example plan.
Draw some paths and areas: Look at the map and experiment with the drawing tools.
If you see a trail, railroad or other linear area, use the Draw Path tool to draw a path along the route. Notice the dots along the path. These are estimated Sensor locations. Give the path a name and then try out some of the settings.
For larger forested areas, use the Draw Area tool to follow the perimeter of the area to be protected by Sensors. Notice the dots inside the area. These are estimated Sensor locations. Give the area a name and move the slider to increase or decrease Sensor density.
Build up the mesh network using the Connectivity Mesh: This adds Border Gateways and Mesh Gateways. First, add a Border Gateway. Afterwards, select in the blue zone of the Border Gateway and then add a Mesh Gateway. Continue adding Mesh Gateways until the Site is covered. Make sure you select in a blue zone before adding another Mesh Gateway.
Optionally, add a few comments: Use the Comment tool to add one or two comments.
You can always delete a route or area and add new ones. Just try the tools and get comfortable using the Planning tool.
The white and yellow dots are used to modify the route or area. Enlarge an area by selecting a white dot and moving it outward.
As you add paths, areas and connectivity zones, the device counters increment. This gives you an estimate of the number of Silvanet devices needed to provide coverage.
Save your plan using the menu on the upper left of the tool to select Save.
Planning tool tutorial
For a detailed hands-on example of preparing a coverage estimation, see Planning Tool tutorial.
With the coverage estimation completed, it is ready to be exported.
Print a Summary document.
Select Export Summary to save the estimation as a printable document (.docx).
After downloading the document, it can be saved as PDF for later printing to be used to deploy the devices.
Release the deployment plan to the Dryad Deployment app.
Select Release Deployment Plan to send the deployment plan to the Deployment app associated with your user credentials.
Before releasing the plan, the Planning tool checks if there are any issues that need to be resolved. If found, use the provided troubleshooting information to fix the issues. For example, if a sensor is outside a connectivity zone, fix this by selecting the Sensor icon and moving it inside a blue zone.
After all issues in the Plan have been resolved, release the Deployment plan.
The plan appears in the Deployment app as a new Site.
Pre-charge the Border and Mesh Gateways for 24 hours before bringing the devices to the deployment locations.
The following are suggested deployment tools:
Toolbox to carry all the necessary tools
Hammer for treenails, chisel to shave off tree bark and shears for trimming branches and for cutting lengths of garden wire
Binoculars to ensure line of sight between devices
10 mm wood drill bit and a 6 mm wood drill bit
Cordless drill and extra fully charged battery
Chainsaw for quickly cutting large branches (optional)
17 mm wrench used for U-Clamps
Garden wire for temporary installations
16 foot (5 meter) foldable ladder
Handheld radio (walkie-talkie) or other alternative means of communication for locations with no cell connectivity
Before heading into the deployment area, find a location with good mobile connectivity, launch the Deployment app on the Smartphone, then select the Site.
See Also
For more information, see Preparation guidelines.
The following procedures are based on a pre-released version of the Silvanet Deployment app. The released version may differ from described. It is provided as example only.
See Get Started tutorial (Gen 2) for a description of the currently available Silvanet Deployment app.
Deploy the Border Gateway to make a connection with the Silvanet Cloud Platform.
In the Deployment app, tap the Site generated by the Planning tool.
From the list of devices, tap a Border Gateway.
The Install Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.
Using the Deployment app, move towards the deployment location.
Once at the location, tap Install Device, then go ahead and mount the Border Gateway.
Fina a healthy tree or stable pole.
Determine the mounting location of the solar panels (towards the sun at noon) and height on the tree or pole of the Border Gateway (3 m) and solar panels (above or below Gateway).
Mount the (3) brackets for the Border Gateway and solar panels on a tree (using tree nails) or pole (using the U-Clamps).
Attach the Border Gateway and solar panels to the brackets. To secure them against theft, use locks in the holes provided.
Connect the cables from the solar panels to the Border Gateway (as well as PoE, if used).
Do not mount the solar panels behind the Gateway.
Ensure the Border Gateway is mounted correctly before starting the registration.
Tap Confirm and Register Device to begin activating the Border Gateway.
Bring the Smartphone running the Deployment app near the NFC logo on the front of the Border Gateway and hold it there for a few seconds.
Wait about three to five minutes for the Border Gateway to attempt to connect with the Silvanet Cloud.
Tap the NFC tag again to see the results of the Connectivity text.
If unsuccessful, follow the troubleshooting information provided in the app, then restart the Connectivity Test.
If successful, tap Show Device Details.
See Also
For more information, see Deploy Border Gateway.
Deploy the Mesh Gateways to build up a Silvanet Mesh Network.
From the list of devices in the Site, tap a Mesh Gateway.
The Install Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.
Using the Deployment app, move towards the deployment location.
Once at the location, tap Install Device, then go ahead and mount the Border Gateway.
Find a healthy tree or stable pole.
Find the location on the tree or pole that is at a minimum of 3 m above ground level and is oriented towards the sun (at 12:00 noon).
Mount the bracket on a tree (using tree nails) or on a pole (using U-Clamps).
Attach the Mesh Gateway to the mounting bracket and lock the Gateway to the bracket.
Ensure the Mesh Gateway is mounted correctly before starting the registration.
Tap Confirm to begin activating the Mesh Gateway.
Bring the Smartphone running the Deployment app near the NFC logo on the front of the Mesh Gateway and hold it there for a few seconds.
Wait about three to five minutes for the Mesh Gateway to attempt to connect with the Silvanet Mesh Network (Border or Mesh Gateways).
Tap the NFC tag again to see the Connectivity results
If unsuccessful, follow the troubleshooting information provided in the app, then restart the Connectivity Test.
If successful, tap Show Device Details.
Use the same procedures to deploy the remaining Mesh Gateways.
We recommend each Mesh Gateway should have connectivity to two Mesh Gateways to ensure a reliable Mesh Network.
See Also
For more information, see Deploy Mesh Gateways.
With the Border Gateway and Mesh Gateways deployed, the Silvanet Mesh Network is ready for the deployment of Wildfire Sensors.
The Deployment plan developed by the Planning Tool indicates how many Wildfire Sensors are to be deployed and where each Sensor is to be located.
Wildfire Sensors can be registered using NFC (for Gen 3 devices) or QR Code (Gen 2 devices). The procedures in this section describe registering Sensors using NFC.
Tap a Wildfire Sensor from the list of devices.
The Install Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.
Move towards the Sensor deployment location.
At the deployment location, tap Install Device.
Select a healthy tree and find a location on the tree that is at least 3 m above the ground level.
Use a chisel or axe to remove any protruding bark at the location. Do not overly damage the bark of the tree.
At the mounting location, drill a hole approximately 6-7 cm into the tree using the 10 mm wood drill bit. We recommend drilling a 6 mm pilot hole first.
Using a tree nail and a spacer, mount the Wildfire Sensor to the tree.
Ensure the Sensor is securely attached to the tree.
If the Sensor is to be mounted temporarily, use garden wire.
Ensure the Wildfire Sensor is mounted securely before starting the registration.
Tap Confirm to begin activating the Sensor.
Bring the Smartphone running the Deployment app near the Sensor and hold it there for a few seconds.
After a few moments, the Sensor is registered.
When complete, the Installation successful screen appears.
Tap Show Device Details. You can add additional information about the deployment location in the Notes field, such as near a campground, in the shadow of a cliff-face and so on.
Allow the Sensor to fully charge (1 day), then let the Sensor calibrate for 14 days.
See Also
For more information, see Deploy Wildfire Sensors.
After calibration, the Silvanet Suite of Gateways and Sensors are now ready for fire detection.
Review the Site details section of a Site in the Site Management app to ensure all Sensors are sending data.
See Also
For more information, see Site details.
