Nestled in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales, Tair Gafr Wines stands as a beacon of sustainable viticulture. Founded in 2019, this environmentally conscious vineyard is committed to organic practices and minimal use of machinery.
However, the arrival of spring brought a recurring concern: how to protect their delicate vines from the clutches of the cold. This challenge sparked a journey toward an ingenious IoT solution that would not only protect their harvest, but also set a precedent for innovation in the field.
The challenge is real - grape bud formation and growth in spring is susceptible to temperature fluctuations, especially in South Wales where low temperatures, especially at night, can jeopardize the harvest. To monitor these critical conditions, Tair Gafr Wines needed a reliable solution.
Tair Gafr Wines chose HW group's NB-2x1Wire monitoring device, a versatile and practical choice with the following key features:
Up to three years of operation with a pre-installed battery;
Cellular connectivity using a NarrowBand SIM card with a three-year prepaid plan;
An easy-to-use portal service for monitoring sensor readings.
This powerful combination allowed the vineyard to precisely define safe temperature and relative humidity ranges. Whenever these values are outside the set parameters, an instant email alert is triggered, made possible by the free portal service provided by HW group (HWg-cloud.com). Imagine the convenience of receiving a prompt notification in your inbox when conditions deviate from the norm.
But as with any innovative solution, there were adjustments to be made. In a sun-drenched vineyard where sunlight is the primary energy source, ensuring accurate sensor readings required careful positioning. The initial sensor placement received excessive direct sunlight, causing additional heating and slightly skewed readings. After fine-tuning the sensor's location, Tair Gafr Wines now has a reliable and affordable long-term solution to ensure the perfect condition of their vines.
The NB-IoT device's battery status is transparent, reducing the risk of unexpected shutdowns due to low battery. An alarm notification can be set to signal the desired level of remaining battery capacity, allowing for proactive replacement without disrupting operations. Actual battery life depends on the number of sensors connected and temperature conditions.
This case exemplifies the effective use of NB-IoT monitoring devices - outdoor, low-cost solutions that provide critical information at no additional cost. After three years of operation, the only steps required are battery replacement and SIM card renewal for another three fruitful years.
The results? We let the quality of the grapes speak for themselves.