Development of an Autonomous Wireless Sensor Networks for Environment Monitoring

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the development and evaluation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) within the Internet of Things (IoT) framework, aiming to enhance real-time monitoring for food quality and environmental sensing. By integrating impedance sensors and solar cells into WSN nodes, the research enables precise monitoring of key parameters like temperature, humidity, and chemical composition. The solar-powered WSN system demonstrates potential for sustainable, low-maintenance IoT solutions that can operate autonomously in diverse environments, offering valuable applications in fields requiring continuous monitoring.
A key innovation is the use of impedance sensors for real-time food quality monitoring, detecting subtle chemical differences in ingredients, which is crucial for ensuring food safety. The integration of machine learning algorithms enhances the system’s ability to distinguish between substances, improving contamination detection. Additionally, the research extends the use of impedance sensors to environmental monitoring, such as pH sensing in water and soil, offering low-cost, low-power solutions for large-scale precision agriculture and environmental resource management.
Another major contribution is the development of an optimization algorithm for
photovoltaic cells and batteries, ensuring optimal energy use and sizing of components in solar-powered WSN nodes. This allows the system to operate sustainably and autonomously in remote areas with minimal maintenance. The findings highlight the importance of renewable energy in IoT applications, and the successful deployment in real-world scenarios underscores its potential to revolutionize monitoring across industries. Future research directions include improving sensor precision, exploring alternative energy sources, and addressing scalability challenges for larger deployments.

Date of Award	22 Sept 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Bangor University
Supervisor	Iestyn Pierce (Supervisor)