Pre-planning tool

The Pre-Planning tool allows for a rapid and precise coverage estimation of a customer's forest location. The output is a set of Packets for use during Silvanet deployments.

The Site Management app provides a Pre-Planning tool that generates rapid and precise coverage estimations of a Site. You first define high-density deployment areas (close proximity to human activity) and then define lower density deployment areas (deeper forested areas). Afterwards modify sensor placement to accommodate hidden topology or other features that might interfere with signal strength between sensors and gateways. Finally provide network coverage with sufficient Mesh Gateways and at least one Border Gateway or more to provide backup Internet connectivity.

Access

The Pre-planning tool is accessible directly from the Site Dashboard of new and existing sites. Select Pre-Planning from the Ellipsis dropdown menu to open the Pre-Planning tool.

The Pre-Planning tool appears.

Main menu

The Main Menu provides access to saving and opening Pre-planning projects.

Save your work regularly

While working on the Pre-Planning project, save your progress regularly to a local drive on your computer or to a network drive.

If you quit or refresh the page, your progress will not be saved.

A Pre-Planning project name is saved as name_of_project.dryad.You can use a more descriptive file name but it must use the .dryad extension.

  • Open - Access saved pre-planning work on a local or network drive.

  • Save - Save and store your progress locally.

  • Export to CSV - Export device coordinates to a CSV file.

  • Help - Provides access to an external User Manual.

  • Quit - Closes the Pre-Planning tool. Any work is lost if you do not save your work before closing.

Toolbar

The Toolbar provides access to tools for estimating the number of sensors in an area defined by polygon and line shapes, as well as gateways to ensure the area has connectivity. Comments can be added for relevant information.

  • Select - Select items on the map.

  • Path - Draw path-like areas to cover with sensors.

  • Area - Draw areas to fill with sensors.

  • Connectivity - Build a mesh of gateways.

  • Comment - Add comments and annotation directly on the map.

Draw Path tool

The Draw Path tool is used to define areas that require a higher density of sensors. Examples of paths in the Pre-Planning tool include hiking paths, lanes and roadways, rail lines, power lines or other linear areas that have a higher level of human activity than a forested area.

Draw a path

  1. Start path: Start creating a new path by clicking on the map where you want the path to start.

  2. End path: End the path by double-clicking on the map where you want the path to end.

  3. Settings: Use the Path Settings panel to name the path, set its type and distance between sensors. See below.

Remember to save the project frequently.

Edit a path

  1. Select a path, then in the Edit Path view, select the Pencil icon. The path becomes editable.

  2. Make changes as required:

    1. Delete a point: Delete a point of the path by clicking on a white dot and press delete or backspace to remove it.

    2. Move a path: Select and drag a white dot from the path to move it.

    3. Add an angle: Select a yellow dot to add an angle (indicated by white dot).

    4. Remove a path dot: Select a white dot and press Delete or Backspace to remove it.

    5. Delete a path: Select the Trash icon to delete a path.

  3. Click anywhere on the map to deselect the path.

  4. Save the project.

Path settings

The Path settings are accessed by selecting a path.

  • Name - Give the path a descriptive name.

  • Path length - Length of path in Imperial or Metric, depending on app settings. See User Settings.

  • Path type - Choose between different path presets which influence the placement of sensors on the path.

    • Hiking path

    • Road

    • Railway

    • Power line

  • Level of protection - Adjust the level of protection of this item. A low level of protection is 100m between each sensor, a high level is 20m between each sensor.

  • Distance between sensors - Level of protection slider sets the value in this field; however, you can enter a precise distance, as required.

  • Amount of sensors - the value in this field is based on the length of the path and density; however, you can enter a precise number of sensors, as required.

Draw Area tool

The Draw Area tool defines large segments of the Site where a lower density of sensors are expected. They are usually areas of low human activity or almost no human activity. This can be areas typically off-limits to human activity, remote areas, or forested areas. They even may have pathways running through them.

Draw an area

  1. Start an area: Start creating a new area by clicking on the map where you want the area to start.

  2. End an area: End the area by double-clicking on the map where you want the area to end.

  3. Settings: Use the Area Settings panel to name the area, define its accessibility (if inaccessible then no sensors are added), distance between sensors and amount of sensors.

Edit an area

  1. Select an area, then in the Edit Area view, select the Pencil icon. The area becomes editable.

  2. Make changes as required:

    1. Add an angle: Select a a white dot, then drag it to add an angle. It also adds new midpoints.

    2. Delete an angle: Select a white dot, then press Delete or Backspace to remove the angle.

    3. Delete a dot: Select a dot, then press Delete or Backspace to remove the dot.

    4. Delete an area: Select the Trash icon to delete a area.

  3. Click anywhere on the map to deselect the path.

  4. Save the project.

Expanding the Area moves the sensors as well. It may also add sensors to accommodate the increased size of the area. Ensure the sensors are placed correctly (not over structures, in open spaces, etc.).

Area Settings

The Area Settings is accessed by selecting an area.

  • Name - Give the path a descriptive name.

  • Surface covered - Automatically generated.

  • Accessible - The slider defines the area as accessible or inaccessible. Making the area inaccessible prevents any sensors or gateway placed in this area. For example, it can be used to highlight areas which are physically or legally not accessible for your deployment.

  • Protection Level - Slider to adjust the level of protection. A low level of protection is 500 m between each sensor, while a high level of protection is 100 m between each sensor. This is set by default at the Mid range of 200 m distance between sensors.

  • Distance between sensors - Can be set manually or automatically using the Protection Level slider.

Add Sensor Manually

The Pre-Planning tool provides a Manual Planning tab when a path or area is selected. You can manually add or remove any type of device and edit a device's name and location for precise Site planning.

For example, when drawing a Path or an Area, the tool may have placed a sensor in a location free of trees or perhaps in a location where a sensor cannot be deployed such as on a building.

Add a sensor

  1. Select an Area or a Path to display details.

  2. Select the Manually Planning tab.

  3. Select Add Sensor.

  4. Move the mouse pointer over the map to move the new sensor to its final location, then click to place the sensor icon.

  5. Save the project.

Any customizations of an area of path overwrite the default placement of sensors.

Edit, move or delete a sensor

  1. In an area or path, select a sensor.

  2. In the Edit Sensor dialog:

    1. Change name of sensor: Change to a descriptive name as required.

    2. Move the sensor: Using the mouse, move the sensor which updates the Latitude and Longitude settings of the sensor.

    3. Delete the sensor: Select Delete Sensor. This cannot be undone.

  3. Save the project.

Plan Connectivity tool

After planning paths and areas, the sensors need LoRa connectivity to one or more gateways. The Plan Connectivity tool using the Site topology to define direct Line of Sight areas around a Border or Mesh Gateway. Each defined connectivity zone is identified by an irregular blue pattern on the map to show the range of a gateway based on the Site topology and the expected range of the gateway.

You first add a Border Gateway to ensure connectivity to the Internet. Find a location that is at the edge of a forest and, ideally, has access to a mains power supply. Then you add the Mesh Gateways to build up a Silvanet Mesh Network.

When placing a new gateway on the map, you can visualize the line of sight represented by a blue zone.

Ensure at least one Border Gateway per mesh network. If you create a site with several Border gateways, account for them manually.

Build a Connectivity Mesh

  1. Add Border Gateways: Place your first gateway by clicking on the map at the desired location.If you already know where your Border Gateway should be placed, start by placing your first gateway at this location.

  2. Add Mesh Gateways: Extend network coverage by placing new gateways in the blue zone (connectivity zone) to extend the Mesh Network coverage. Place a gateway inside existing network coverage delimited by the blue zone.

  3. Ensure sufficient network coverage: After placing gateways on the map, the tool estimates the network coverage. When it reaches a high enough coverage percentage, it is indicated by a Sufficient Coverage message.

  4. Save the Project.

To build a resilient mesh network, we advise that each gateway should be in line of sight with at least 2 other gateways, when possible.

Edit Connectivity Mesh

Location of Border and Mesh Gateways can be changed. Gateways can also be added or removed from the Connectivity Mesh.

  1. Select the Connectivity Mesh.

  2. Select a gateway and make changes:

    1. Change Name: Change the name as required.

    2. Change gateway type: Select either Mesh Gateway or Border Gateway to change the type of gateway to deploy.

    3. Move gateway: Move a gateway by selecting a gateway icon the drag it to the required location. This updates the Latitude and Longitude settings. It also closes the Edit Gateway dialog.

    4. Remove gateway: Select a gateway icon, then press Delete or Backspace to remove the gateway from the map. This cannot be undone.

    5. Moving gateway outside of blue (connectivity) zone: By default, placing gateways are not permitted outside of the mesh network coverage zone. However, you can override this limitation by holding Shift and placing a new gateway at the desired location.

  3. Save the project.

Completed Pre-Planning

Once you have created all the paths and areas you wish to protect, and have placed gateways to ensure sufficient mesh network coverage, the device counter on top of the map will display the estimated number of sensors and gateways required. This estimation can be used for quoting purposes.

Device Counter

The Device Counter keeps track in real time of all Border Gateways, Mesh Gateways and Sensors placed on the Site.

  • Gateway counters - shows estimated number of Border and Mesh Gateways required based on the number of gateways added to the map.

  • Sensor counter - shows estimated number of sensors required based on the paths and polygons added to map.

Comments

The Comments tool allows users to include additional information about the deployment or any other relevant topic. They can be added anywhere on the map.

  • Add comment - select Comment and then click anywhere on the map to add a Comment field, then enter text. Remember to save the project.

  • Deleted comment - erase the comment text to delete the comment item, then save the project.

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