Environmental Sensing & Data Acquisition
Industrial-grade sensors with dual 4G/LoRaWAN links enable low-power environmental monitoring and data acquisition in wide-area scenarios.
In wide-area scenarios such as multi-span greenhouses, horticultural facilities, river water quality monitoring, urban waterlogging points, and industrial warehouses, power and wired network deployment is cost-prohibitive across hundreds of meters to kilometers of rugged terrain. On-site sensors from multiple vendors often use proprietary protocols, causing long integration cycles. Abnormalities like frost, water degradation, or soil drought rely on manual inspections, resulting in delayed detection. Furthermore, collected environmental data stays isolated on cloud dashboards or mobile apps, unable to trigger on-site actuators (such as irrigation valves or ventilation fans) or integrate into third-party business systems.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Duration
- L1 1 day / L2 2–3 days / L3 3–5 days
- Shortest Format
- 1 day (Taster Session · L1)
- Teaching Format
- 3 tiers: Taster / Workshop / Bootcamp
- Core Protocols
- Modbus RTU / RS485 / LoRaWAN / 4G Full-Network
- Dual Communication Routes
- 4G Cellular Direct Version (Domestic) / LoRaWAN Wide-Area Version (Overseas, Wiring-Free)
- Track
- Solutions
- Who This Course Is For
- Solution consultants and business sales · Curriculum development teams and hands-on instructors · Agriculture, environmental protection, and municipal engineering technicians · Partner institution and government/enterprise training students
- Prerequisites
- None
Typical Scenarios
- Smart agriculture and protected horticulture: soil temperature/humidity/EC monitoring, greenhouse CO2 concentration regulation, precision fertigation linkage
- Water quality and ecological monitoring: river cross-section and aquaculture water pH monitoring, outdoor micro weather stations
- Smart municipal and urban flooding: overpass and low-lying waterlogging monitoring, pipeline network temperature/humidity and pressure status monitoring
- Industrial warehousing and plant monitoring: constant-temperature/humidity warehouse monitoring, industrial dust-removal and exhaust-emission environmental parameter monitoring
- Field Unattended Monitoring: Forest Fire-Prevention Weather Station, Large-Area Farm Multi-Point Soil Moisture Remote Collection
Three depths and where each one gets you
- L1 Demo Level 1 day
Environmental Sensing Network Architecture and Data Monitoring
Power up the devices and see environmental data on the web and in the app
- Understand distinct topologies and applicable conditions of 4G DTUs and LoRaWAN gateways in IoT data acquisition
- Proficiently use SenseCraft Data web portal and mobile app to inspect multidimensional environmental telemetry and historical trends
- Understand the measurement principles and deployment considerations of typical industrial sensors for soil, water quality, and weather
- L2 Consultant Level 3 days
Sensor Wiring, Modbus Configuration, and Rule-Based Alerts
Wire up RS485 sensors and configure polling and three or more alert rules
- Master RS485 differential wiring, 5V / 12V power distribution, and Modbus RTU register addressing
- Proficiently bind 4G data loggers (or LoRaWAN gateways) and configure polling intervals
- Configure 3+ business alert strategies (high temperature threshold, low soil moisture alarm, device offline notification)
- L3 Design Level 5 days
API Data Integration and Local Edge Automation
Pull data through the Open API into Grafana and local automations
- Master SenseCAP Open API authentication (Access ID / Access Key, HTTP Basic Auth) and telemetry data retrieval endpoints
- Deploy Node-RED on reComputer R1025 to orchestrate local automation flows triggering actuators based on sensor readings
- Ingest environmental time-series data into InfluxDB and Grafana to design a private monitoring dashboard
What learners can do afterwards
- Multi-environmental parameter acquisition (soil / weather / gas / water quality)
- Wide-area wireless transmission (4G cellular direct / LoRaWAN)
- Cloud reporting and multi-condition alert configuration
- SenseCAP Open API data integration and retrieval
- Node-RED local threshold automation orchestration
- Time-series database storage and Grafana private dashboard
Hardware and toolchain
This course centers on "4G data acquisition + a range of sensing terminals", covering sensing and collection from farmland and weather stations to industrial parks.
- DTU 4G Multi-Channel Data Logger (114992169) 4-Channel RS485 Industrial Data Logger · 4G Cellular Reporting
- WEATHER 7-in-1 Weather Environmental Sensor (101991050) Ultrasonic Wind Speed/Direction / Radar Rainfall · RS485
- AGRI Yunxiaoguo Multi-Parameter Agricultural Monitor (114993122) Temperature/Humidity/Light/CO2 Integrated · RS485
- SOIL 4G Soil Moisture Monitor (114993646) Tube-Type Multi-Layer Soil Monitoring · 4G + Solar
- EDGE reComputer R1025-10（113991274） Edge Automation Host · Node-RED/API
Illustrated list of 6 devices
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4G Multi-Channel Data Logger (114992169)
4-channel RS485 industrial data logger, reports to cloud via 4G
Data acquisition hub, supports 4 RS485 channels, expandable to up to 32 sensors via a splitter; 4G cellular full-network direct connection, plug-and-play with SIM card, standard Modbus RTU protocol, powered by 12V/2A adapter.
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7-in-1 Weather Environmental Sensor (101991050)
Industrial 7-in-1 weather station, RS485/SDI-12 output
Integrates ultrasonic wind speed/direction, radar rainfall, light, temperature/humidity/pressure, and total solar radiation; 12–24V DC powered, IP66 integrated protection, used for weather multi-parameter bus parsing practice.
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Yunxiaoguo Multi-Parameter Agricultural Monitor (114993122)
Integrated micro-weather agricultural monitor, RS485 output
Compact integrated monitoring of air temperature/humidity, illuminance, and CO2; 12V DC powered, agricultural outdoor protection rating, used for agricultural multi-parameter acquisition teaching comparison and expansion testing.
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4G Soil Moisture Monitor (114993646)
Tube-type multi-layer soil monitor, built-in 4G and solar
Wiring-free continuous deep soil moisture and temperature monitoring; solar + lithium battery self-powered, IP68 rated, 4G full-network wireless direct transmission, suitable for unattended field soil moisture monitoring.
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Leaf Wetness & Temperature Sensor (314990737)
Bionic leaf-surface temperature/humidity monitoring probe, RS485 interface
Monitors leaf surface temperature/humidity and leaf wetness duration; 5–24V DC powered, IP67 rated, used for crop leaf microclimate monitoring and disease early-warning experiments.
-
reComputer R1025-10（113991274）
Local automation host, running Node-RED and API integration
Edge intelligence controller with isolated RS485 and dual Ethernet ports; deploy Node-RED via the official installation script, access http://[device IP]:1880 for local automation orchestration, implementing threshold judgment and actuator control; 12V/2A independent power supply.
Additionally configured with SenseCAP Outdoor Gateway (114992982), SenseCAP S2100 Data Logger (114992872), SenseCAP S2105 soil sensor (114992871), SenseCAP S2103 CO2/temperature-humidity sensor (114992869) and other LoRaWAN route hardware (images pending), as well as 4G IoT SIM card, screen, integrated power design, router, and other common accessories.
SenseCAP to the Cloud, Modbus Wiring, Open API On-Prem
Industrial sensors connect out of the box to cloud dashboards, RS485 buses parallel multiple sensors, and the Open API plus Grafana builds an on-prem data loop.
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SenseCAP Sensors + SenseCraft Data
Industrial Sensors Out-of-Box Access · Cloud SaaS Dashboard
- Sensor Wiring
- 4G Data Logger/Gateway Binding
- Cloud Real-Time Data & Reports
-
Modbus RTU + RS485 Bus
Register Mapping Configuration · Multi-Sensor Parallel & Alert Orchestration
- RS485 Differential Wiring
- Slave Address & Register Configuration
- Multi-Level Threshold Alert Strategy
-
SenseCAP Open API + Node-RED + Grafana
REST API Data Extraction · Local Threshold Linkage · Private Dashboard
- Open API Authentication & Telemetry Extraction
- Node-RED Local Automation Orchestration
- InfluxDB+Grafana Private Dashboard
Key Turning Point · From Cloud Data Monitoring to Local Edge Closed-Loop Control SenseCraft Data cloud handles data visibility and alert notifications; SenseCAP Open API introduces cross-platform data extraction, which pairs with Node-RED running on edge reComputer to enable local threshold logic and actuator triggers, progressing from environmental monitoring to data integration and automated control.
Additionally requires 4G IoT SIM card (cellular telemetry backhaul), SenseCraft App (mobile device onboarding and alert notifications), and InfluxDB time-series database (L3 private telemetry storage).
Syllabus and formats
13 teaching units in total. The delivery formats come first; the full syllabus expands below.
Taster Session
No final project1 day · 6–8h · L1 presentation layer · focusing on dual communication architecture awareness and cloud data monitoring
Hands-On Course
Includes final project2–3 days · 14–20h · L1+L2 · sensor wiring + Modbus configuration + multi-level alert orchestration
Delivery Course
Includes final project3–5 days · 24–35h · L1+L2+L3 · full coverage including SenseCAP Open API integration and Node-RED local automation
4G data logger and sensor power supply involves 12V/24V DC circuits; power adapter specifications must be confirmed to match sensor power requirements (5V/12V/24V DC) to avoid overvoltage damaging sensors or undervoltage causing abnormal readings. Students must have instructors confirm correct wiring before powering on.
RS485 bus wiring requires attention to A/B wire order and termination resistor matching; when multiple sensors are connected in parallel, expand via splitter and set unique slave addresses (Slave ID) to prevent conflicts; when bus length exceeds 10 meters, a 120Ω termination resistor is recommended at the end, otherwise communication packet loss or register read failures may occur.
4G version requires confirmation of on-site cellular signal strength; basement or deep mountain scenarios require external high-gain antennas; each data logger requires a valid IoT data SIM card. LoRaWAN version requires evaluation of line-of-sight coverage between gateway and nodes; long-term field nodes require matching solar panels and high/low-temperature environment batteries.
The taster session does not include RS485 wiring or Modbus configuration content. Do not promise clients that taster session students can independently complete sensor physical wiring — that is the workshop delivery standard.
One of the lessons · 01
Pre-class Preparation and Environment Pre-check
Hardware bench inventory (4G data logger/sensor/R1025), IoT SIM card activation, SenseCraft Data account initialization, teaching material distribution
—
Show the full syllabus of 13 units and the schedule for each format
| Module / Output | Taster1 day | Workshop2–3 days | Bootcamp3–5 days | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Pre-class Preparation and Environment Pre-checkHardware bench inventory (4G data logger/sensor/R1025), IoT SIM card activation, SenseCraft Data account initialization, teaching material distribution | — | Full | Full | Full |
| 02 | Environmental Sensing Network Architecture Analysis4G direct architecture (RS485 sensor → 4G data logger → cloud platform) vs LoRaWAN architecture (wireless node → outdoor gateway → cloud platform → edge host) dual-topology comparison and selection criteria | SenseCraft Data | Full | Full | Full |
| 03 | Sensor Measurement Principles & Typical ScenariosSoil moisture/temperature/EC measurement principles and moisture monitoring; 7-in-1 weather station construction; agricultural multi-parameter sensing and leaf wetness/temperature probe deployment key points | — | Full | Full | Full |
| 04 | SenseCraft Data Platform Data MonitoringWeb console: device management, real-time data cards, historical trend line charts and geographic point mapping; mobile SenseCraft App scan-code device binding and status/real-time data viewing | SenseCraft Data / App | Full | Full | Full |
| 05 | Data Report Export & Mobile OperationsHourly/daily/monthly aggregated data export (CSV/Excel format) and historical archiving; mobile alert message center operation demo | SenseCraft Data | Partial | Full | Full |
| 06 | RS485 Sensor Wiring Hands-OnAviation plug pin definition (VCC/GND/RS485-A/RS485-B), sensor power supply matching (5V/12V DC), multi-sensor parallel (RS485 splitter) and slave address (Slave ID) anti-conflict settings | RS485 / Wiring Tools | None | Full | Full |
| 07 | Data Logger Configuration & Platform Binding4G data logger device EUI and Key binding, channel naming, sampling interval and upload period settings; LoRaWAN gateway network entry and node binding process | 4G Data Logger / SenseCraft Data | None | Full | Full |
| 08 | Modbus RTU Register Mapping ConfigurationData logger and sensor Modbus register mapping table configuration (start address, read length, data type parsing and scaling factor); register read debugging and data verification | Modbus RTU | None | Full | Full |
| 09 | Multi-Level Business Alert Rule ConfigurationThreshold alerts (soil temperature <5°C frost warning, ambient temperature >35°C high-temp ventilation warning); mutation and trend alerts; device operational status alerts (data logger offline/sensor offline/low battery); notification channel configuration (App push/email/Webhook) | SenseCraft Data Alerts | None | Full | Full |
| 10 | SenseCAP Open API CallingCreate Access ID and Access Key on the SenseCraft Data platform, HTTP Basic Auth authentication; write HTTP requests to obtain latest telemetry data, historical time-series data and device online status; JSON message field parsing and data cleaning | SenseCAP Open API | None | None | Full |
| 11 | reComputer R1025 Local Automation OrchestrationDeploy Node-RED on R1025 via official installation script; write automation flow: scheduled polling/HTTP request to pull cloud data, judge environmental thresholds; issue control commands via RS485 channel (trigger relay/open irrigation valve) | Node-RED / reComputer R1025 | None | None | Full |
| 12 | Time-Series Database & Grafana Dashboard IntegrationWrite environmental sensing data into InfluxDB time-series database; import Grafana dashboard template, configure multi-zone environmental comparison dashboard and private data monitoring | InfluxDB / Grafana | None | None | Full |
| 13 | Solution Review and Delivery SummaryField sensor deployment anti-interference/waterproof rating (IP66/IP68) and lightning protection specification retrospective; power budget calculation (solar panel wattage and battery capacity ratio); solution deliverables and API interface specification document archiving | — | Partial | Full | Full |
● Full◐ Partial— None●＋ Extended
The taster session focuses on L1 platform architecture awareness and cloud data monitoring, excluding RS485 wiring and API integration; the workshop covers full L1+L2 sensor wiring, Modbus configuration, and alert orchestration; the bootcamp fully covers L1+L2+L3, including SenseCAP Open API integration and Node-RED local automation.
Taster Session
- Day 1 MorningModules 01 + 02 + 03
Environment pre-check → Dual communication architecture analysis → Sensor measurement principles and scenarios
- Day 1 AfternoonModules 04 + 05 + 13 (abbreviated)
SenseCraft Data platform monitoring → Report export and mobile operations → Summary review
Does not include RS485 wiring, Modbus configuration, or API integration.
Hands-On Course
- Day 1Modules 01–05
Environment pre-check → Dual communication architecture → Sensor principles → Cloud data monitoring → Report export
- Day 2Modules 06–09
RS485 wiring hands-on → Data logger configuration and binding → Modbus register mapping → Multi-level alert rule configuration
- Day 3 (optional)Module 13
Solution Review & Delivery Summary (Including Deployment Specifications & Power Budget)
The workshop delivers one RS485 physical wiring setup with 2+ sensor types, one Modbus register mapping table, and at least 3 types of business alert strategies. Student prerequisite: ability to read sensor wiring diagrams, RS485/Modbus or electronic wiring fundamentals.
Delivery Course
- Day 1–2Modules 01–09
Full L1+L2 content (architecture awareness + cloud monitoring + RS485 wiring + Modbus configuration + alert orchestration)
- Day 3Module 10
SenseCAP Open API Authentication & Telemetry Data Extraction Hands-On
- Day 4Module 11
Node-RED Local Automation Control Flow Development on reComputer R1025
- Day 5Modules 12 + 13
InfluxDB+Grafana private dashboard → Solution review and delivery archiving
The bootcamp goal is the ability to independently deliver environmental monitoring systems and API data integration. Student prerequisite: HTTP API calling, JSON parsing, and Linux command-line fundamentals, familiarity with L1–L2 competencies.
The taster course takes one day, needs no wiring, and stops at "sensors connect, data reaches the cloud and the dashboard shows it". It suits trade shows, open days and first meetings with a client.
Workshop Day 3 is an optional flexible day: if students have a strong foundation, it can be compressed to 2 days (Day 2 afternoon merged with review and delivery summary); if more alert strategy tuning and wiring troubleshooting time is needed, use the full 3 days.
What You Take Away
The following are full-version (bootcamp) deliverables; the workshop delivers the first 4 items; the taster session delivers abbreviated versions of items 1 and 2.
- 01
Sensor network deployment diagram and electrical wiring definition table
Includes on-site sensor deployment topology diagram, RS485 bus wiring diagram, aviation plug pin definition table (VCC/GND/RS485-A/RS485-B), power distribution scheme, and slave address (Slave ID) allocation table.
- 02
Modbus RTU slave address and register mapping dictionary
Includes all connected sensor models, slave addresses, register start addresses, read lengths, data types, scaling factors, and physical quantity conversion formulas.
- 03
SenseCraft Data alert strategy configuration checklist
Includes complete configuration parameters for threshold alerts (upper/lower absolute thresholds), mutation and trend alerts, device operational status alerts (offline/disconnected/low battery), and notification channel (App push/email/Webhook) setup records.
- 04
Data Report & Platform Operation Manual
Includes SenseCraft Data web and mobile App operation guide, data report export process (CSV/Excel), historical data archiving methods, and device binding steps.
- 05
Node-RED automation flow file (.json) and API integration sample code (L3)
Includes SenseCAP Open API authentication configuration (Access ID/Access Key, HTTP Basic Auth), telemetry data extraction HTTP request examples, Node-RED threshold linkage control flow JSON files, and RS485 control command issuance logic.
- 06
Grafana monitoring dashboard configuration file (L3)
Includes InfluxDB time-series database write configuration, Grafana data source connection settings, multi-zone environmental comparison dashboard template (JSON), and private deployment instructions.
Open-source projects you can reproduce
These projects use the same hardware and methods as the course, and what we learn in class is fed back into them.
Agricultural environment monitoring
View SenseCAP soil and air readings on a Home Assistant dashboard, with alerts when a value crosses a threshold. Works through the SenseCAP cloud or fully offline.
Spoken device reports via MCP
Let any MCP-compatible voice assistant or LLM report on a SenseCAP device fleet: ask "what is the greenhouse reading right now" and get an answer, anomalies first, with no app or dashboard.
Bring distributed field and utility sensors reliably into your dashboard
M5 addresses harsh environments without public network cabling, such as agriculture, water utilities, and municipal pipelines, guiding learners through industrial transmitter wiring, 4G / LoRaWAN dual-route evaluation, and cloud private dashboard deployment. With complete register mapping tables and standardized wiring diagrams, instructors can flexibly adapt labs to on-site conditions.
Extension 01
Adapt to your site conditions
Alert trigger policies in Unit 09 are fully adaptable. Instructors can align threshold exercises with greenhouse freeze alerts, warehouse climate control, or aquaculture water quality targets.
Extension 02
Connect Sensors
Following Unit 06, students can wire external RS485 sensors, referencing register manuals to practice address mapping and raw telemetry parsing on new hardware.
Extension 03
Integrate Teaching Experience
Instructors bring practical experience in lightning protection, waterproofing, power consumption budgeting, and long-term keepalive heartbeats into the classroom, equipping learners with the engineering skills needed for outdoor reliability.
Scope Boundaries & Compliance
4G and LoRaWAN are two independent delivery routes, hardware is not mixed; environmental data belongs to low-frequency IoT monitoring, not millisecond-level closed-loop control.
In Scope
- Multi-environmental-parameter collection (soil temperature/humidity/EC, weather 7-parameter, CO2, leaf wetness/temperature, water quality pH, etc.) and wide-area dispersed point monitoring
- Selection, deployment, and data backhaul for two communication architectures: 4G cellular direct (domestic) and LoRaWAN wide-area wireless (overseas/wiring-free)
- SenseCraft Data cloud real-time dashboard, historical trend analysis, data report export (CSV/Excel) and multi-condition threshold alert configuration
- SenseCAP Open API data extraction (HTTP Basic Auth, Access ID/Access Key authentication) and third-party business system one-way data integration
- reComputer R1025 edge Node-RED local threshold linkage control (issuing low-voltage actuator commands such as relay/irrigation valve via RS485)
- InfluxDB Time-Series Database Storage & Grafana Private Data Monitoring Dashboard Deployment
Out of Scope
- Do not mix 4G and LoRaWAN hardware: the two routes are standalone kits; 4G collectors and LoRaWAN gateways / S210x nodes use separate protocol stacks and must not be networked together or cross-substituted.
- Data sovereignty and private deployment boundaries: SenseCraft Data is a cloud SaaS platform, environmental data is stored on Seeed cloud by default; L3 extracts data to local InfluxDB via Open API for private storage, but raw data still first transits through the cloud; pure offline/network-available local data collection services are not provided. Private deployment only covers L3-stage API-pulled data, not private deployment of the cloud platform itself
- Not applicable to millisecond-level closed-loop motion control: environmental sensing sampling period is typically 1–60 minutes (depending on on-site power consumption and battery strategy configuration), belongs to low-frequency IoT monitoring, does not perform high-frequency servo vibration monitoring, not applicable to millisecond-level closed-loop motion control or real-time servo systems
- Strictly prohibited from intervening in the monitoring and control of safety-critical life systems such as fire protection, elevator control, and high-voltage power distribution
- Does not include large-area civil construction and high-altitude lightning protection engineering implementation
- Does not include protocol cracking services for third-party legacy sensors without open protocols
- Does not promise force majeure damage exemption for sensor hardware caused by extreme natural disasters (submersion, lightning strike)
- Control scenarios are limited to low-voltage DC actuators issued via RS485 (relay modules, irrigation valve solenoids, etc.); directly controlling AC 220V and above high-voltage loads through this system is strictly prohibited
- Sensor measurement accuracy is affected by physical environment such as installation depth, soil compaction, and electrode surface cleanliness; regular maintenance and calibration are required, absolute measurement accuracy in specific scenarios is not promised
Put M5 on your timetable
Budgets are based on participant count and hardware requirements. Email us your expected group size and target depth to receive a detailed syllabus and kit plan within 3 business days.