About

Sakha was commissioned for the implementation of a Smart Forest project, covering 50 sq. kms of a designated forest area in an Indian State. The project aimed to prevent the trafficking of trees by using IoT devices to monitor sound waves. The system sends notifications to the authorities for prompt intervention in case of any suspicious activities or noises. The solution was based on Raspberry Pi technology, and it provided real-time monitoring of the forest area to ensure the protection of trees and wildlife.

The Challenge

The Forest Department of the Indian State is responsible for the conservation and management of forest resources in the region. However, illegal logging and trafficking of trees have been a significant challenge faced by the department. These activities not only cause a significant loss of revenue for the state but also lead to severe ecological and environmental consequences. The forest department has been struggling to combat these illegal activities, as they are usually carried out in remote and inaccessible areas, making it difficult to monitor and detect them in time. The lack of real-time information on forest activities and the inability to respond to incidents promptly have only aggravated the situation. Furthermore, traditional methods of monitoring, such as patrolling by forest guards, have proved to be ineffective in tackling the problem, given the vast expanse of forest areas that need to be covered. In this scenario, a technology-driven solution was necessary to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of forest management and conservation.

Solution

The pilot Smart Forest project implemented by Sakha addressed the problem of illegal trafficking of trees in a designated forest area in an Indian State. The solution used IoT devices to monitor sound waves and identify any suspicious activities or noises that might indicate the presence of traffickers. The following are the features of the solution:

• Implementation of IoT devices in the forest area to monitor sound waves and identify any suspicious activities or noises
• Use of Rasberry Pi-based solution for real-time monitoring of the forest area
• Automated notifications to authorities when suspicious activities are detected
• Ability to track the movement of illegal loggers in the forest area
• Remote access to the data collected by the IoT devices through a web-based dashboard

The Rasberry Pi-based solution used in the project was a small computer that acted as the central hub for collecting and processing data from the IoT devices (acoustic sensors). It was programmed to process the data in real-time and send notifications to the authorities through a wireless connection when suspicious activities were detected. The solution was cost-effective and easy to deploy, making it an ideal choice for monitoring large forest areas. The Raspberry Pi continuously collected the data from the IoT devices and stored it locally in its SD card. It also sent the data to the cloud servers using secure protocols and data encryption techniques. In the cloud servers, the data was analyzed using AI algorithms, machine learning, and data analytics tools to identify any suspicious activities or patterns. If any such activities were detected, the system immediately sent notifications to the forest department authorities, who could take prompt actions to prevent illegal logging activities in the forest. Benefits of the solution include:

• Prevention of illegal trafficking of trees in the designated forest area
• Prompt intervention by authorities to prevent further illegal activities
• Reduction in deforestation and protection of the forest ecosystem
• Cost-effective and efficient monitoring of the forest area
• Use of advanced technology to address environmental challenges

The Smart Forest project was a successful implementation of technology to address environmental challenges and protect the forest ecosystem from illegal activities such as tree trafficking. The use of IoT devices and Rasberry Pi-based solution enabled real-time monitoring and prompt intervention, ensuring the safety and preservation of the forest area.