LoRa-based Wireless Sensor Networks for Urban Scenarios Using an Open-source Approach

This work brings together two wireless sensor networks achieved within two European projects aimed at accomplishing novel approaches to urban monitoring. The networks share the same end nodes but differ in the architecture and the communication protocol, namely raw-LoRa and LoRaWAN (868 MHz). By the one hand, the raw-LoRa option allows for the full control on exchanged data, as the network management is implemented at hardware level. By the other hand, the LoRaWAN option provides a standard way to data gathering and comes with enhanced features for devices/applications management. The architectures rely on open-source compliant components both in terms of software (i.e. network management and data storage) and hardware (sensor-nodes and gateways). All these aspects have made it possible to achieve two flexible and low-cost platforms for environmental monitoring applications, among others. Data collected both outdoor and indoor enable us to assess the reliability and the drawbacks of the wireless sensor networks reported.