Planning tool tutorial
Learn how to use the Planning tool to estimate of the amount and location of Silvanet devices needed to protect a Site.
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Learn how to use the Planning tool to estimate of the amount and location of Silvanet devices needed to protect a Site.
Last updated
Was this helpful?
This tutorial walks you through the steps required to plan the deployment of Silvanet devices using the Site Management app's Planning tool.
The example plan in this tutorial includes high density Sensor zones called Paths and low density Sensor zones called Areas.
To ensure the Sensors have connectivity to the Silvanet Cloud, the plan includes a Connectivity Mesh that consists of a Border Gateway and several Mesh Gateways.
After completing the plan, it is then released to the Deployment app and exported as a summary document.
After completing this tutorial, you should know how to:
Open the Planning tool in the Site Management app
Search for an appropriate Site location
Save the planning file (custom_name-site_number.dryad)
Define Areas and Paths and a Connectivity Mesh
Export a summary document (*.docx) and release the plan to the Deployment app
To complete this tutorial, you need to complete the following prerequisites. You can skip ahead if you've already completed these tasks:
In the Planning tool, find a suitable location for the Site. You can select any location as an example. In this tutorial, we make a plan to deploy Silvanet in an area in northern British Columbia, Canada. It includes a deep valley, thick forests, a settlement, power lines, roadways and forestry paths.
Open the Site Management app.
Select Site view, then select Planning tool from the ellipsis menu (upper-right corner).
In the Planning tool use the Search field to find a deployment location.
Save your project by selecting Save from the dropdown menu (upper-left corner).
Add the first path which i s a line of Sensors that follow a hiking path in the Site.
Describe the path: In the Path Settings panel shown on the left enter the following information:
Name: Enter a descriptive name.
Path type: Select Hiking Path.
Protection Level: Select Mid. The slider is used to determine Wildfire Sensor density (Low, Mid, High).
(Optional) Add Wildfire Sensors to path: Select Manual Planning, then select Add Sensor. Try placing an additional Sensor icon somewhere in the path. Notice the Sensor number increments by 1.
Save the project.
Add another path but In this case select Power Line from the Path type dropdown.
Notice how the Planning tool wraps each power line tower with four Sensors.
Add the third path but in this case select Roadway from the Path type dropdown.
Notice the increased density of Sensors for a roadway compared to a hiking path.
You should now have three paths shown on the map.
Find an area on the map to add the first of three areas. In this case, we use the area that includes a valley, a hillside and areas that are sparsely wooded.
It follows the contours of the hiking path and crosses the power line path. Name it the North ridge.
Describe the area: Enter the following information in the Path Settings panel:
Name: Enter a descriptive name, such as North Ridge.
Surface area: This is automatically generated.
Accessible: For this area, do not select this. This slider sets the area as inaccessible (such as private property, military area, restricted area).
Protection Level: Select Mid. Use the slider to determine Wildfire Sensor density (Low, Mid, High). The distance between Sensors affects the amount deployed. The higher the protection level, the shorter the distance between Wildfire Sensors.
Save the project.
Add a second area is on the opposite side of the hiking path and crosses the power line path. We call it the South ridge.
Use the same procedure as for the first area to add a second area. Give it a unique name.
Use the same Area settings as the first area.
Save the project.
In this area, define an inaccessible area. This is an area that is off-limits and cannot be used to deploy Sensors.
Use the Draw Area tool to define this area but in this case, slide the Accessible selector to Off. The area then is defined without Wildfire Sensors.
Select the Draw Area tool and define this area using the same settings as the other areas but set the Accessible slider to off. This makes the area inaccessible and no Sensors are added to the area.
Save the project.
Connectivity zones have the following properties:
Blue overlay: The line-of-sight of the Gateway is indicated by an irregular blue overlay that shows areas where the Gateway has connectivity.
Open areas: Bounded areas within a connectivity zone indicates topology such as a hill or rock face that interferes with Sensor connectivity with Gateways. These areas may require additional Mesh Gateways but they must be added within existing blue areas.
First add a Border Gateway. Look for a location at the forest edge where the Gateway can expect clear line-of-sight to mobile towers and free of trees or structures to ensure good solar radiation on the solar panel.
Select Add Gateway and place the Gateway icon on the map. Remember, it needs to be placed where it can get mobile connectivity and good access to solar irradiation. Double-click the Gateway icon to add the Gateway.
Select the Gateway from the side menu to open the Edit Gateway dialog, then select the following:
Gateway type: Border Gateway
Installation Height: 5m Pole
Network: Cellular
Power Type: Solar
Latitude/Longitude: GPS location of the Border Gateway is automatically generated.
Save the project.
Next, add Mesh Gateways to build up a Connectivity Mesh.
Add a Mesh Gateway using the same procedure as adding a Border Gateway but select Mesh Gateway from the Gateway Type. Place the Mesh Gateway within the blue connectivity zone of the Border Gateway.
Save your project.
Continue adding more Mesh Gateways until the Site has sufficient network coverage (minimum 95%)
Use the same procedure to add more Mesh Gateways until you see the Network Coverage progress bar reaching at least 95% threshold. Ensure Mesh Gateway is the Gateway type.
Save your project.
When you are satisfied with the deployment plan, generate the Packets for use by the Silvanet Deployment app. You do this by releasing the deployment plan.
Select Release Deployment Plan.
If the Planning tool identifies issues with the planned locations of Sensors and Gateways, it prevents Packets being generated. Go through the list of issues and fix them.
In this example a Sensor was placed outside a Connectivity Zone. You need to move the Sensor within the nearest blue zone. In the example below, notice the Sensor placed outside a connected area. After moving this Sensor a few meters into the Connectivity Zone, it resolved this issue.
With all issues resolved, the Deployment Plan is ready to be released. Select Release Plan to generate the Packets. You can now find the Packets in your Deployment app under the same Site you used to start the Planning tool.
Save your project.
An editable .docx file can be exported for use during deployment.
From the Planning tool, select Export Summary.
Save to a local drive for use by teams deploying Silvanet devices in a Site.
Access credentials to the Site Management app. Contact if you don't already have them.
installed on your Smartphone.
Site created in the Site Management app. To learn how to create a Site, see .
Use the tool to define high density areas the Site. They can be set as hiking paths, power lines, roads or railroads.
Create a path. Select the Draw Path tool. Select a starting point and drag the path along the route. End the path by double-clicking on the map.
Use the tool to define lower density areas of the Site. It also can be used to define inaccessible areas within the Site.
Create an area: Select the Draw Area tool. Begin the area by selecting a start point, then drag the path along the boundary of the area. Double-click on the map to complete the area. Notice how the Planning tool placed Sensors. These locations are automatically generated.
Add or remove sensors You can add, move, rename or delete a Sensor in an Area. For details, see .
Use the Plan Connectivity tool to define connectivity zones. Each zone (shown in blue) represents the areas around Border Gateways and Mesh Gateways where Wildfire Sensors can connect to the Gateway.
Create a Connectivity zone: Select Connectivity Mesh tool.
Use the Comment tool to add a few relevant comments to the map. They can be anything you notice about the terrain, the amount of human activity, anything you think needs to be noted directly in the plan.
For detailed information about the Planning tool, see the section .
