Get started tutorial (Gen 2)

Learn how to plan and deploy Gen 2 Silvanet Gateways and Wildfire Sensors with this step-by-step tutorial.

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.

Dryad Silvanet Suite Tutorial - Gen 2 devices
Open a PDF version of the Gen 2 Get Started tutorial

Goal

After completing this tutorial, you should know how to:

Prerequisites

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

1. Plan the Site

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.

Login to dryad.app

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 web and mobile apps. For more information, see Add new users.

  1. Go to dryad.app. Dryad recommends using Chrome.

Dryad.app login page
  1. Select Login and then in the Sign In form, enter your username and password.

Select or create a Site

  1. In the Site Management app, select the Sites view. The Site is where you prepare the deployment plan.

Sites view
  1. If no Site appears, select Create Site.

  2. Give the Site a name, select a region, then select Create Site.

See Also

For more information, see Sites view.

Plan coverage estimation

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.

Access the Planning tool
  1. Run the Planning tool: From the ellipse menu (top-right), select Planning tool.

  2. Find a deployment location: Search for a suitable location using the Search form. You can find any location as this is only an example plan.

  3. Draw some paths and areas: Look at the map and experiment with the drawing tools.

    1. If you see a hiking 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 some of the settings.

    2. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. Optionally, add a few comments: Use the Comment tool to add a comment or two.

  6. You can always delete a route or area and add new ones. Just try the tools and get comfortable using the Planning tool.

Notice the white and yellow dots. You can use these dots to modify the route or area. Try enlarging an area by selecting a white dot and moving it outward.

As you add paths, areas and connectivity zone, the device counters increment. This gives you an estimate of the number of Silvanet devices needed to provide coverage.

Example completed coverage estimate
  1. Save your plan using the menu on the upper left of the tool to select Save.

Planning tool tutorial

For a detailed example of preparing a coverage estimation, see Planning Tool tutorial.

Completed plan

With the coverage estimation completed, it is ready to be exported.

  1. Print a Summary document.

    1. Select Export Summary to save the estimation as a printable document (.docx).

    2. After downloading the document, it can be saved as PDF for later printing to be used by forestry workers to deploy the devices.

  2. Release the deployment plan to the Dryad Deployment app.

    1. Select Release Deployment Plan to send the deployment plan to the Deployment app.

    2. 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.

    3. After all issues have been resolved, release the Deployment plan.

    4. The plan appears in the Deployment app as a new Site.

2. Prepare to deploy

Required deployment tools

Bring the appropriate 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, 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

See Also

For more information, see Preparation guidelines.

Deployment app installed

Ensure the Deployment app is installed on a fully charged Smartphone.

Before heading into the deployment area, find a location with good mobile connectivity and launch the Deployment app on the Smartphone. Then select the Site.

3. Deploy Border Gateway

Deploy the Border Gateway to make a connection with the Silvanet Cloud Platform.

Select Border Gateway

  1. In the Deployment app, tap the Site generated by the Planning tool.

  2. From the list of devices, tap a Border Gateway.

  3. The Register Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.

Register Border Gateway

Register Border Gateway

  1. Using the Deployment app, move towards the deployment location for the Border Gateway.

  2. Once at the location, tap Register Device to open the Scanning screen.

  3. Scan the device's QR Code to register the Border Gateway.

<figure><img src="../.gitbook/assets/bg-scan-qr-code (1).png" alt="" width="188"><figcaption><p>Scan QR Code</p></figcaption></figure>
  1. The Registration successful screen appears.

Registration successful

Mount Border Gateway

  1. Use treenails (for trees) or U-Clamps (for poles) to mount the Border Gateway 3 m above ground level.

  2. Use garden wire to vertically mount the solar panel above the Border Gateway and face it towards the sun (at 12:00 noon).

  3. Connect the solar panel to the Border Gateway using the provided cable and connector.

Mount Border Gateway
  1. If available, use a mains power supply and router, with the PoE Injector. as described in Border Gateway scenarios.

Run Connectivity test

Run the connectivity test to ensure the Border Gateway has connectivity to the Silvanet Cloud.

  1. Tap Confirm & Start Connectivity Test to begin.

Run Connectivity Test
  1. If unsuccessful, follow the troubleshooting information provided in the app, then restart the Connectivity Test.

  2. If successful, tap Close or Show Device Details.

Successful connectivity test

See Also

For more information, see Deploy Border Gateways.

4. Deploy Mesh Gateways

With the Border Gateway connected to the Silvanet Cloud, you can begin deploying the Mesh Gateways to build up a Silvanet Mesh Network.

Select Mesh Gateway

  1. Tap a Mesh Gateway from the list of devices.

  2. The Register Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.

Find deployment location
  1. Using the Deployment app, move towards the deployment location.

Register Mesh Gateway

  1. Once at the location, tap Register Device to open the Scanning screen.

  2. Scan the device's QR Code to register the Mesh Gateway.

Scan QR Code

Mount Mesh Gateway

  1. 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).

  2. Using tree nails (for trees) or U-Clamps (for poles), mount the Mesh Gateway at least 3 m above ground level.

Mount Mesh Gateway

Run Connectivity test

  1. Ensure the Mesh Gateway is securely mounted.

  2. Tap Confirm & Start Connectivity Test to run a Connectivity test. This test ensures the device has connectivity to the Border Gateway and/or Mesh Network.

  3. If the Border Gateway cannot be reached, follow the information provided in the app and restart the test.

  4. If the Mesh Gateway can communicate with neighboring Gateways but the signal is too weak, follow the information provided in the app and restart the test.

  5. If successful, tap Close or Show Device Details, then go ahead and deploy the next Mesh Gateway.

Deploy next Mesh Gateway

Use the same procedures to deploy the remaining Mesh Gateways.

See Also

For more information, see Deploy Mesh Gateways.

5. Deploy Wildfire Sensors

Select Wildfire Sensor

  1. Tap a Wildfire Sensor from the list of devices.

  2. The Register Device screen appears. Your location is indicated by a blue dot on the map.

Register Device
  1. Move towards the Sensor deployment location.

  2. Once at the location, find a stable tree that is healthy and unlikely to be cut down.

  3. Tap Register Device to open the Scanning screen.

Register Wildfire Sensor

  1. Before mounting the Sensor, use the Deployment app to scan the QR Code on the Sensor. This app then registers the Wildfire Sensor.

  2. After connecting with the Silvanet Cloud via the Silvanet Mesh Network, the Registration successful screen appears.

Registration successful

Mount Wildfire Sensor

  1. Find the location on the tree that is at a minimum of 3 m above ground level. Use a chisel or axe to remove any protruding bark at the location. Do not overly damage the bark.

  2. Use a tree nail and spacer to mount the Wildfire Sensor.

Mount the Sensor

For temporary mounting, use garden wire to secure the Sensor to a tree.

  1. Ensure the Sensor is securely attached to the tree.

  2. Tap Confirm to complete the deployment.

  3. The Installation successful screen appears.

Successful installation
  1. Tap Close or Show Device Details.

Mounted Wildfire Sensor

Allow Wildfire Sensor to calibrate

Allow 14 days for the Wildfire Sensors to calibrate.

See Also

For more information, see Deploy Wildfire Sensors.

Next steps

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.

Last updated

Was this helpful?