Client: Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI)
Industry: Agricultural Research & Soil Science
Challenge
Lack of Real-Time Soil and Environmental Data
Before automation, CCRI faced challenges in continuously tracking soil health parameters across their research plantations:
- Manual sampling led to inconsistent and delayed soil data.
- Limited visibility into soil moisture, temperature, and nutrient trends.
- No remote access to field conditions for research teams.
- Difficulty in correlating soil parameters with crop health and yield data.
Solution
IoT-Enabled Soil Health Monitoring Network
Sunbio IT Solutions implemented a robust network of IoT-based soil sensors across CCRI’s research plots. The solution provided real-time monitoring through a connected mobile platform.
- Multi-Parameter Soil Sensors: Measure moisture, temperature, pH, EC, and nutrient levels at multiple depths.
- Wireless Connectivity: Data transmitted from all field nodes to a central cloud dashboard.
- Mobile Application: Researchers monitor live soil data, trends, and alerts directly on their mobile devices.
- Data Visualization & Alerts: Automated threshold notifications for soil moisture and nutrient deviations.
- Energy-Efficient Design: Long-life field sensors powered by solar and optimized communication modules.
System Architecture
Connected Monitoring from Soil to Screen
- Sensor Nodes: Installed across research plots to continuously collect soil metrics.
- Gateway Devices: Aggregate sensor data and transmit to cloud servers.
- Cloud Platform: Centralized data processing, analytics, and visualization.
- Mobile App Access: Enables field researchers to track soil conditions remotely.
Results
Data-Driven Decisions for Sustainable Coffee Cultivation
| Metric/Area |
Before Automation |
After IoT Deployment |
Impact |
| Data Collection | Manual sampling | Automated sensor-based | Continuous real-time monitoring |
| Soil Analysis | Periodic testing | Instant parameter tracking | Improved data accuracy |
| Field Accessibility | On-site visits | Mobile dashboard access | Remote management |
| Research Insights | Delayed correlations | Instant analytics | Smarter agronomic decisions |
Business Impact
Smarter Agriculture through Real-Time Intelligence
- Enhanced soil management and nutrient optimization for research and field trials.
- Remote monitoring reduces manual workload and improves response time.
- Better data reliability supporting scientific research and coffee yield studies.
- Demonstrates the potential of IoT in large-scale plantation monitoring.