MEA Plexus soil moisture wireless monitoring network

Environmental monitoring specialist MEA is putting up-to-the-minute soil moisture readings into Australian growers and irrigators’ hands with the launch of Plexus - a wireless network which delivers the data directly to the web. Farmers can easily access their data on a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with information presented in an easy-to-understand format thanks to the company’s Green Brain software.

The product collects soil moisture data from multiple points on the farm and delivers the data directly to the web every 30 min. The mesh-networking nature of the wireless network allows it to take measurements and route them back over hundreds of hectares to a central hub where the data is then uploaded to the internet over the Telstra network.

Each network is customised to the grower’s requirements and is capable of measuring soil moisture, soil temperature and soil salinity. The collaborative nature of the field stations means that the network is reliable, as it can deal with damaged stations, lost links and complex terrain without losing their vital soil moisture reading.

The Plexus units are powered by a solar panel which charges a lithium-ion battery with an expected 8-10 year life span. They are essentially maintenance free.