Lorawan water meter | Lora based water meter architecture IoT

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) water meters, or LoRa-based water meters, leverage the LoRaWAN communication protocol to enable long-range and low-power communication for monitoring and managing water consumption. LoRaWAN is a wireless communication technology designed for the Internet of Things (IoT) applications, offering a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for remote sensing and data transmission.

LoRaWAN is a RF technology which works on various frequency bands across the world viz. 868 MHz, 915 MHz, 433 MHz etc. It uses various bandwidths to support different data rates as per need.

LoRaWAN uses various protocol architectures such as mesh, star, 6LowPAN etc. The system supports many silent features such as long range (about 10 to 30 miles), low power (provides 15-20 years of battery life time), high capacity ( millions of messages per gateway) and so on. Moreover LoRaWAN provides privacy and protection against intrusion due to usage of AES-128 algorithm.

Lora based water meter architecture

The figure-1 depicts simple architecture of Lora based water meter. As shown it consists of smart meters, LoRa Gateway (i.e. base station), Cloud storage and applications..

Multiple LoRaWAN smart meters are supported by single LoRa Gateway device. Multiple LoRa gateways are spread across the region to provide wireless connectivity.

LoRa gateways are interfaced with the cloud or network server using standard IP based communication. Mobile app or web app is used to monitor the water supply, usage and any blockage issues.

Following section describes working of LoRaWAN smart water management system.
➨As shown, smart meters are installed in the path between water supply department and taps.
➨Smart meters are connected with LoRaWAN gateways using LoRaWAN frequencies wirelessly.
➨The LoRaWAN gateway connects with Cloud using MQTT or HTTP protocols.
➨The water usage data are pushed to the cloud.
➨The data are read from cloud storage and displayed on mobile app or web app.

Lorawan water meter

The key features of LoRaWAN water meters may include following.
1. LoRaWAN technology allows water meters to communicate over long distances, making it suitable for applications where devices are spread out across a wide area, such as in smart city deployments.
2. LoRaWAN devices are designed to operate on low power, enabling extended battery life for the water meters. This is crucial for IoT devices deployed in remote or hard-to-reach locations where frequent battery replacement may be impractical.
3. LoRaWAN networks can support a large number of devices, making them scalable for various deployments. This is particularly useful for water management systems in urban or industrial settings.
4. LoRaWAN enables two-way communication, allowing the water meter to not only send data but also receive commands or configuration updates remotely. This bidirectional communication capability enhances the flexibility and control of the water management system.
5. LoRaWAN incorporates security features to protect the communication between devices and the network. This is crucial for ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of the water consumption data.
6. LoRaWAN is known for its cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for large-scale deployments. The low-cost infrastructure and devices contribute to the affordability of implementing smart water metering systems.
7. LoRaWAN water meters can provide accurate and real-time data on water consumption. This data can be used for monitoring usage patterns, detecting leaks, and optimizing water distribution systems.
8. LoRaWAN water meters can be integrated with IoT platforms, allowing for centralized management, data analysis, and visualization. This integration enhances the overall efficiency of water management systems.

Following are the typical specifications of Lorawan water meter.
• Opto-port for reading by humans
• Data collection at every 1/6/12/24 Hours
• Data transmission at every 1/6/12/24 Hours
• Battery power upto 10 to 15 years
• Range: as per lora which is about 15 Km with frequency of 923 MHz and class-A
• Extra feature: Ambient temperature measurement

Benefits or advantages of Lorawan water meter

Following are the benefits or advantages of Lorawan water meter.
➨It helps in generating transparent bills for consumers.
➨It notifies leakage of the water and hence water wastage can be minimized.
➨It produces real time infrastructure data.
➨Consumers obtain water usage data via mobile app or web app. Hence it enhances responsibilities of the consumers to save water.
➨As consumers have account of water usage on daily basis, they can take action to save water and money.
➨The system offers integrated resource management and sustainable solution.
➨Smart meters offer longer life and hence users need not have to worry about replacing the battery often. There are many more advantages of smart meters such as flexible to mount, smaller size, larger display, dirt resistant, nature friendly, flood proof, magnet resistant and so on. Refer popular manufacturers of smart meters >>.

Conclusion : In summary, LoRa based water meters offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for remote monitoring and management of water consumption. The combination of long-range communication, low power consumption, scalability, and security features makes LoRaWAN technology well-suited for IoT applications in the field of water management.

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