Demo: LoRaWAN Coverage Assessment Using Optimal Bicycle Route Planning

In LoRaWANs, the distance between sensor devices and gateways can reach up to several kilometers. Determining whether a particular location within this range is suitable for the reliable operation of a wireless sensing device is, however, not trivial by means of theoretical analysis alone. Numerous factors besides the power at which a signal is transmitted, such as obstacles in the line-of-sight path, govern whether connectivity is given. Real-world deployments of LoRa devices are hence typically preceded by connectivity assessments using field test devices. This process, mostly realized by having a person move around a target zone to find the position that leads to the strongest LoRa signal reception at a gateway, is labor-intensive and needs to be repeated for every device to be newly rolled out. We demonstrate how this process can be automated by pre-populating LoRaWAN coverage maps with the help of bicycle riders, rather than taking measurements on-demand. We accomplish this through determining an optimal set of routes for bicyclists, to ride along all accessible tracks in an area of interest. By equipping cyclists with LoRa transmitters which periodically send out location beacons, receiving gateways can autonomously derive connectivity maps of their surrounding area. We visualize received signal strength values in the form of heatmaps, which can be used to make informed decisions about suitable deployment locations for additional sensors.