Skip to content

Build a Packet

In the Silvanet System, a Packet defines the Silvanet Sensors and Gateways that are to be deployed in a Site. The Packet also includes the planned GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude) of each device.

Tip

This section assumes you have selected a Site from the Site Management homepage. For more information, see Opening Sites.

Guidelines

When building Packets, consider the following guidelines:

  • Determine the total number of hectares of forest you plan on monitoring with Silvanet.
  • Use the guide in Sensor deployments to determine how many sensors and gateways are required to effectively monitor the site forest.
  • Use the ratio of Sensors to Mesh Gateways and Mesh Gateways to Border Gateways to determine the required number of gateways. See Component ratios.

Tip

You can create as many Packets as are required for the Site. For example, you can create several Packets for one day's deployment for multiple teams.

Create a new Packet

To create a new Packet:

  1. From the Site dashboard select Planning. The Packet planning page appears. Other Packets may appear on this page.

    Packet planning page

    Packet planning page

  2. Select Add Packet to begin building the Packet. The Packet building page appears with a default location shown in the map.

    Build Packet page

    Build Packet page

  3. In the Search field enter a location to center the Map on the planned location for the deployments. Use the Map tools to zoom in or out on the location.

    Search Site location

    Search Site location

  4. Enter a name for the Packet, then select Add devices to packet.

    Enter Packet name

    Enter Packet name

  5. Select Save to save your changes to the Packet (you may need to scroll down to see the Save button).

  6. Begin adding devices to the Packet. See the following sections for details.

Add Border Gateways

Recall from Component ratios, a deployment needs 1 Border Gateway for every 20 Mesh Gateways. We recommend a backup Border Gateway for larger deployments.

Choose amount of Border Gateways

To add one or more Border Gateway(s) to the Packet:

  1. Ensure the map is centered on the deployment location.

  2. Select Add devices to packet.

  3. From the Device Type dropdown menu, select Border Gateway.

  4. Enter the number of Border Gateways to add to the Packet, then select Add.

    Add Border Gateway

    Adding a Border Gateway to Packet

  5. Select Save to save your changes to the Packet (you may need to scroll down to see the Save button).

Tip

If the approximate location of the Border Gateway(s) are not known beforehand, you can save the Packet by selecting Save.

Determine Border Gateway GPS coordinates

Placing the Border Gateway on the map generates the GPS location for the device.

To place a Border Gateway on the map:

  1. Select the Border Gateway(s), then select Place on Map.

  2. The Border Gateway appears on the map as an icon centered in the view.

  3. Using drag and drop, move the Border Gateway icon to the approximate location of the planned deployment. The GPS coordinates of the planned location appear next to the device in the list.

    Tip

    You can switch to full screen mode to view a larger map when placing the Border Gateway.

    Place Border Gateway

    Placing Border Gateway on the map

  4. Select Save to save your changes to the Packet (you may need to scroll down to see the Save button).

Add sensors

Before adding sensors, you need to know the number of sensors to deploy in the Site forest. Consider deployment density when placing the sensors on the Map. See Sensor deployments.

Choose amount of sensors

To add sensors to the Packet:

  1. Ensure the map is centered on the deployment location.

  2. Select Add devices to packet, then select from the Device Type dropdown select Sensor.

  3. Enter the number of sensors to add to the Packet.

    Add sensors

    Adding sensors to Packet

Tip

If the approximate location of the sensors are not known beforehand, you can save the Packet by selecting Save.

Determine sensor GPS coordinates

Placing sensors on the map generates the GPS location for each sensor. Ensure the map is centered on your Site location.

Note

Do not plan for sensors to be deployed next to paths or streets. Place the sensors a meter or so away from the path or street to prevent the device from damage due to vandalism.

To place sensors on the map:

  1. Select the sensors, then select Place on map. The sensors appear on the map in a default location in the center. The GPS coordinates of the sensors appear in the list next to the devices.

    Placing sensors

    Placing sensors on the map

  2. Using drag and drop, arrange the sensors on the map according to the sensor deployment guidelines. You can view the map in full screen mode for easier placement. Use the standard map tools to move around the map.

    Locate sensors

    Arranging sensors on the map

    Tip

    Distances between devices appear when moving icons. Ensure you follow the density guidelines when placing the sensors described in Sensor deployments.

  3. Select Save to save your changes to the Packet (you may need to scroll down to see the Save button).

Add Mesh Gateways

Recall from Component ratios / ranges, a deployment needs 1 Mesh Gateway for every 100 sensors. More Mesh Gateways may be required depending on the topology of the forest.

Choose amount of Mesh Gateways

To add Mesh Gateway(s) to the Packet:

  1. Ensure the map is centered on the deployment location.

  2. Select Add devices to packet, then select from the Device Type dropdown select Mesh Gateway.

  3. Enter the number of Mesh Gateways to add to the Packet.

    Add Mesh Gateways

    Add Mesh Gateways

Tip

If the approximate location of the Mesh Gateway(s) are not known beforehand, you can save the Packet by selecting Save.

Determine Mesh Gateway GPS coordinates

To place a Mesh Gateway(s) on the map:

  1. Select the Mesh Gateway(s), then select Place on Map.

  2. The Mesh Gateway(s) appear on the map as icons.

  3. Using drag and drop, arrange the Mesh Gateway icon(s) on the map according to deployment guidelines.

    Placing Mesh Gateways

    Placing Mesh Gateways

  4. Select Save to save your changes to the Packet (you may need to scroll down to see the Save button).

Finish up

With the devices added to the Packet and placed on the map, the packet needs to be assigned to a user.

To finish up:

  1. Once the Packet has been saved, select Back to return to the Packet Overview page.

    Completed Packet

    Completed Packet

  2. The Packet now needs to be assigned to a registered user of the Silvanet System.

Back to top