Problem Statement
Technological advances in African countries have allowed the innovation of systems and solutions for monitoring the most varied parameters of interest, boosting the Internet of Things, and creating Smart Cities. This project investigates the challenges of wireless sensor networks (WSN) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to demonstrate their societal benefits through applications in water management for consumption and smart agriculture to face the climate change crisis, addressing the unique needs and conditions of Cape Verde.
Progress Highlights
We provided IoT recommendations for Cape Verde, established an experimental field at the university, engaged local farmers to tailor solutions, and developed a smart agriculture system. Currently, we are working on a social IoT architecture to enhance resource management in rural areas and foster community collaboration.
Key Findings
This project demonstrated the feasibility of IoT and WSN in Cape Verde, enhancing water management and agricultural practices. The smart agriculture ecosystem increased water efficiency. Community collaboration ensured practical implementations, while recommendations addressed the unique challenges of Cape Verde's geography and infrastructure.
Potential Impact
Our project shows IoT and WSN can enhance resource management and agriculture in Cape Verde. The potential impact includes improved efficiency, increased agricultural productivity, and better climate resilience. We aim to foster community collaboration, making technology accessible and beneficial for all, especially in rural areas.
Summary
Technological advances in African countries have allowed the innovation of systems and solutions for monitoring the most varied parameters of interest, boosting the Internet of Things and creation of Smart Cities. In this research project, we intend to take advantage of the benefits of technological evolution to develop smart solutions that allow mitigating the effects of climate change in the water and agriculture sector. The research will study the feasibility of using wireless sensor network and what approaches to adopt so that they can have an impact on the water and agriculture sector that allow mitigation and gain resilience in the face of climate change.
Grantee Description
Dr Sónia Semedo is a Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Cabo Verde, in Cabo Verde. She received her Ph.D. degree in Physics Engineering, specialization in Instrumentation from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, in February 2016. Her doctoral work focused on developing and analyzing innovative mechanisms for harvesting energy from different sources to power supply wireless sensor networks.
Dr Semedo’s long-term aspiration is to continuously expand and embrace new approaches for wireless sensor network suitable for African needs and priorities. She aims to advance a research niche on Internet of Things and its applications, encourage young people to pursue research careers, and use research and innovation to improve living conditions.
Project: Smart solutions for water and agriculture to face the Climate Change Crisis in Cabo Verde
In Cape Verde we have experienced several prolonged drought cycles with little or no rainfall, which it directly affects the availability of water for day-to-day activities and services, it becomes mandatory water monitoring for better management and distribution through the population. One approach to accomplish this is using wireless sensor network (WSN) to monitor the parameters and send it to users for decision making. In this project, we intend to study a feasibility of developing intelligent solutions based on wireless sensor networks that fits to Cape Verde reality and needs. WSN presents several challenges such as security, power supplying, communication range, communication protocols… and in Cape Verde the challenge is even greater because we are an archipelagic country, mountainous where most interesting areas are far from each other and mostly located in rural areas with little infrastructure installed. To prove the feasibility of using WSN, we will explore two case-studies, the monitoring and management of drinking water and the efficient use of water in agriculture. Monitoring water together with weather conditions can provide useful information for defining climate resilience actions. So, based on the results, actions will be proposed to mitigate the effects of climate change in the use of water for consumption and agriculture
