Long-range Wi-Fi Network
Telemetry and Automation
CCTV and Security
Dairy Farm CCTV Wi-Fi System
Agspand Case Study 1 – Long-range Wi-Fi Network
Issue
Clients on an agricultural property were unable to access high-speed broadband Internet at their residence or office, and they were paying a premium price for a poor satellite service. There was an NBN fixed-wireless tower visible from the clients’ property, but that service was not available at their residence.
Solution
The clients arranged for the NBN to be connected to one of their rental dwellings located on the edge of the farm. A Wi-Fi network was then installed that provided wireless data links from their residence and office to the rental with the NBN, allowing much-improved Internet availability. Realising the Wi-Fi network’s potential, the clients also connected their pump sheds, workshops and multiple wireless access points to the network (see images).
Result
The clients are able to access high-speed broadband Internet from their home and office as well as on mobile and fixed devices at multiple locations over their farm. They are no longer paying a high price for a poor Internet service. Also, by connecting their CCTV and pump systems to the network, they can remotely monitor their security cameras and irrigation pumps while working almost anywhere on their property, without having to drive to each system.
Cost
The total cost of the Wi-Fi network system installed for the farm was approximately $10,000.
A solar-powered Wi-Fi repeater station set up on top of a hill, which enables 210-degrees of Wi-Fi coverage out to approximately 15 kilometres. The repeater connects wirelessly to a broadband Internet service from a town 7 kilometres away.
Accompanying residential uplink, on the opposite side of the hill to the town, wirelessly connected to the repeater located 3 kilometres away. Primarily the repeater provides broadband Internet to the residence that previously had only a poor satellite Internet service.
Remote pivot irrigators and other pieces of equipment are also wirelessly connected to the farm’s Wi-Fi network.
Agspand Case Study 2 – Telemetry and automation
Issue
Clients running an agricultural operation have a large water tank at an elevated location that supplies all of the water to their many residences, out-buildings, stock-watering points and some garden taps. They manually operate an electric pump from a river to fill the tank, with the pump approximately 5 kilometres from the tank. They often run out of water by running the tank dry, and then have the tank overflow for days because someone has to drive to the pump to turn it on and off.
Solution
A wireless telemetry system was installed to automate the operation of the pump. A sensor detected when water in the tank had dropped to a low level, and it would then wirelessly turn on the pump. When the tank was full, the system would wirelessly turn off the pump. Basic fault detection was incorporated, where the sensor at the tank would periodically update the pump controller while the pump was running. If the pump controller did not receive these periodic updates, it would shut down the pump and indicate a fault.
Result
The clients now have a stable water supply without inconvenient interruptions. They no longer waste electricity pumping water into the tank from the river only to have it overflow into drains running back to the river from where it was originally pumped.
Cost
The total cost of the automated water system installed for the rural property was approximately $5,000.
Wi-Fi link radios on a pump shed with an additional omni Wi-Fi antenna on top for mobile device connectivity. By having an Ethernet network connection in the pump shed the client can remotely monitor flow and pressure sensors as well as monitor the variable speed drives to the pumps.
Another pump shed connected to a Wi-Fi network is used for remotely monitoring flow and pressure sensors, along with the ability to remotely turn on or off the fertigation pump.
A large concrete water tank with a wireless link to the pump shed. An automated system turns on the pump when the level drops below a pre-set level and fills the tank, then switches off the pump prior to overflowing.
Agspand Case Study 3 – CCTV and security
Issue
A client and his family on an agricultural property often travel overseas and regularly work away from home, leaving their residence unoccupied for frequent periods of time throughout the year. They are concerned that their absences, along with their property’s rural location, might entice a break-in and burglary. Although they have an intruder-alarm system, they were not confident it would deter potential thieves as the burglars could be long gone by the time a security guard arrived.
Solution
To accompany their existing security arrangements, a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system was installed, along with Infra-Red (IR) Illuminators, a network-enabled Digital Video Recorder (DVR), and battery-backed power supply. The IR illuminators automatically switch on when the light levels are low, allowing the cameras “night vision” as though floodlights are illuminating the area, but this is invisible to the human eye. The battery-backed power supply ensures that the cameras, illuminators and recorder remain functional for several minutes in the event of a power failure.
Result
The clients have peace of mind knowing there is a CCTV system recording 24-hours, 7-days a week, which might not only deter potential criminals but may also identify them if the property is unlawfully entered. If the clients’ security company alerts them to an intruder alarm, they can remotely access the DVR from any Internet-enabled location in the world, print or save a still-image of the offenders, or view and save recorded footage of the offenders.
Cost
The total cost of the CCTV security system installed for the rural residence was approximately $12,000.
The two images shown are from a high-definition CCTV camera security system.
The first picture is normal daylight on overcast day. Notice the high level of picture clarity compared to what is usually grainy security footage.
The second image, the same camera at 1:20 am in the morning. What appears to be visible lighting is the infra-red (IR) illuminators working. If you were there in person, it would be pitch-black, as though there was no lighting. Again the clarity of the image at night remains high despite its infra-red illumination.
Agspand Case Study 4 – Dairy farm CCTV Wi-Fi system
Issue
Understanding and reading heat detection is essential for a productive dairy, but the manager of a large operation was struggling to find staff experienced with the process. It was costing the business money from lost production due to a large percentage of cows not getting into calf in that critical first 6-week period.
Solution
By installing a Wi-Fi system and 2 high-definition digital cameras in the dairy shed, the manager can oversee the heat-detection systems from his office, while staff members are able to get on with the job of milking the cows. The manager in the office can see what cows are on heat, as well as draft them out of the herd by remotely opening a gate on the exit race after they come off the dairy platform.
Result
By using this system of identifying the cows on heat in the dairy shed and getting more cows into calf in that first 6 weeks, the manager has been able to lift farm production. It has also improved the work environment for the staff and the cows. From a remote location the manager is able to talk to the staff in the shed and together they also identify non-performing animals. Pleased with the system, the manager is now installing cameras in the calf sheds and the day yard. Understanding that the calves are his future herd, the manager wants to keep his experienced eye over them.
Cost
The total cost of the CCTV dairy monitoring system was around $10,000, with more able to be added in the future.
Heat-detection and management-tag identification system operating in the dairy shed.
Drafting race with cameras reporting back to the operator in the office, allowing the operator to remotely draft off certain animals using their identification tags.
High-definition network cameras monitoring the dairy shed.
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