LoRa-Based Wildfire Early Warning and Alert Network (ECE)

The ECE team will design and implement the hardware and embedded systems for LoRa-enabled wildfire detection nodes. Each node will integrate temperature, humidity, and smoke/gas sensors with a microcontroller and LoRa transceiver, powered by a rechargeable battery and solar energy harvesting circuit. The team will develop low-power circuitry and weatherproof enclosures to ensure continuous operation under outdoor conditions. Antenna placement and optimization will be performed to maximize communication range. To validate performance, the nodes will be configured with different LoRa parameters and tested across varying terrains, with a focus on scalability in multi-node deployments.

Objectives

1. Sensor Node Hardware -

  • Integrate the microcontroller with a custom PCB breakout board for the LoRa module as well as the sensor(s)
  • Design and assemble low-power circuitry with rechargeable battery and solar charging.
  • Evaluate options for enclosures — this could include custom designs or off-the-shelf weatherproof housings — with attention to antenna placement.
  • Define and document how all components connect and operate together (system mapping, wiring, and interface design).
  • Conduct sensor operability testing using MicroPython/Arduino frameworks to validate the system's performance

2. Radio & Network Testing -

  • Configure LoRa transmission parameters (spreading factor, bandwidth, frequency).
  • Conduct outdoor field tests measuring RSSI, SNR, and packet delivery ratio.
  • Tune antennas and evaluate performance under different terrains and obstacles.

3. System Optimization & Validation -

  • Design and validate a solar powered circuit
  • Ensure interoperability between the solar power and the battery
  • Perform scalability testing with 3–5 nodes operating simultaneously.
  • Develop and validate LoRa relay nodes to extend network coverage, improve reliability, and enable scalable wildfire monitoring.
  • Collaboration with the Forestry Department to simulate wildfire conditions

Final Deliverables

  • 3–5 fully functional, solar-powered LoRa sensor node prototypes.
  • Technical documentation including circuit diagrams, PCB layouts, and enclosure designs.
  • Field test results demonstrating range, reliability, and scalability.

Motivations

Oregon’s wildfire season, spanning from mid-May through late September, has become increasingly destructive due to climate change, drier conditions, and decades of fuel accumulation. These factors have led to larger, more intense, and harder-to-contain fires that threaten lives, destroy timberlands and watersheds, and devastate habitats critical to Oregon communities (wfca_teila, 2023). The urgency of this problem was underscored on August 21, 2025, when a wildfire near Sisters, Oregon expanded to 18,000 acres in just two days with 0% containment, forcing widespread evacuations and demanding massive firefighting resources (Isaksen, 2025).

Current wildfire detection efforts in Oregon rely heavily on AI-enabled camera networks operated by the Oregon Hazards Lab (OHAZ), which can identify smoke plumes up to 40 miles away. While technologically advanced, this approach is inherently reactive, as detection begins only after smoke is visible—often when fires are already spreading (OHAZ, 2025).

The motivation behind the ECE project is to develop a proactive, ground-level monitoring system that can detect environmental precursors to wildfire—such as sudden temperature spikes, sharp drops in humidity, or elevated smoke particulates—before smoke plumes appear. By designing low-power, solar-enabled LoRa sensor nodes, the team aims to provide earlier alerts that complement the existing camera network, giving firefighters and communities valuable time to respond before small ignitions escalate into uncontrollable wildfires.

References: 

1. wfca_teila. (2023, February 23). Oregon Fire Season: In-Depth Guide | WFCA. WFCA. https://wfca.com/wildfire-articles/oregon-fire-season/  

2. Isaksen, I. (2025, August 23). Flat Fire Update - August 23, 2025 | Central Oregon Fire Information. Central Oregon Fire Information. https://centraloregonfire.org/2025/08/23/flat-fire-update-august-23-2025/ 

3. Wildfire Detection Cameras | The Oregon Hazards Lab. (2025). Uoregon.edu. https://ohaz.uoregon.edu/wildfire-cameras 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

- Electronics fundamentals with basic knowledge of circuits and sensors

- Programming experience using Arduino, MicroPython, or similar platforms

- PCB design familiarity with tools such as KiCad or Altium

- System integration experience combining sensors, power, and communication modules

- Interest in learning and experimenting with LoRa technology

*We will be working with the CS peers for data management and website development.

Here's a fun-to-explore article about the LoRa technology and its applications- LoRa Technology

Preferred Qualifications:
None Listed


Details

Project Partner:

Gaurav Dange

NDA/IPA:

No Agreement Required

Number Groups:

1

Project Status:

Accepting Applicants

Card Image Capstone