Published May 21, 2025

Wi-Fi HaLow-Powered Micro-Climate & Crowd Sensor for Island

BaliSense Node is a low-cost, autonomous sensor unit powered by ESP32 and Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah), ts

BeginnerWork in progressOver 4 days154

Wi-Fi HaLow-Powered Micro-Climate & Crowd Sensor for Island

Things used in this project

Hardware components

EngeBOT Technology WROOMBEE - ESP32 WROOM Xbee form factor

Core MCU + Wi-Fi

SparkFun Atmospheric Sensor Breakout - BME280

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Node-RED

Google Sheets API

MQTT broker

Balinese Event API

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Multimeter

3D Printer (generic)

Story

🧠 Project Overview

BaliSense Node is a low-cost, autonomous sensor unit powered by ESP32 and Wi-Fi HaLow (802.11ah), designed for tropical environments like Bali. This node captures localized weather and sound data in areas that are often underserved by traditional infrastructure — rice fields, beaches, cliffside cafes, and even open-air festivals.

This project is part of a broader effort to build a distributed environmental and event detection mesh that can support both residents and travelers.

🔧 Core Features

📡 Long-range wireless communication using Wi-Fi HaLow

📡 Long-range wireless communication using Wi-Fi HaLow

🌡 Micro-climate monitoring (temperature, humidity, pressure)

🌡 Micro-climate monitoring (temperature, humidity, pressure)

🔊 Ambient audio sampling to detect human activity levels

🔊 Ambient audio sampling to detect human activity levels

🧭 Optional BLE-scan mode to estimate crowd density

🧭 Optional BLE-scan mode to estimate crowd density

☀ Solar-powered with nighttime fallback battery

☀ Solar-powered with nighttime fallback battery

🛠 Components List

Component

Purpose

ESP32-WROOM

Core MCU + Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi HaLow add-on

Long-range comms

BME280

Environmental sensor

SPH0645 / MAX4466

Microphone module

LiPo battery

Power storage

6V Solar Panel

Renewable energy supply

Waterproof PLA Enclosure

Tropical protection

🌍 Use Cases in Bali

BaliSense Nodes can be deployed in various key areas:

Popular beach clubs to monitor real-time crowd size and noise

Popular beach clubs to monitor real-time crowd size and noise

Remote rice terrace cafes to track temperature shifts for agritourism

Remote rice terrace cafes to track temperature shifts for agritourism

Event spaces (e.g., sunset yoga spots or open-air restaurants)

Event spaces (e.g., sunset yoga spots or open-air restaurants)

Integration with traveler resources such as:

Integration with traveler resources such as:

👉 h ttps://onbali.com/all-bali/michelin-star-restaurants/— understanding where and when the ambience of a place peaks can help travelers choose the perfect spot.

🧪 Future Plans

Integration with OpenWeatherMap API for comparative forecasts

Integration with OpenWeatherMap API for comparative forecasts

Crowd alert system via Telegram or app notifications

Crowd alert system via Telegram or app notifications

Upgrade path with ESP32-CAM for visual crowd detection

Upgrade path with ESP32-CAM for visual crowd detection

Data sync to centralized dashboard using MQTT

Data sync to centralized dashboard using MQTT

🖼 Concept Diagram

(Ask me if you'd like a generated diagram or visual concept mockup for this.)

less

[ Sensor Node ] --> [ Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh ] --> [ Central Server ] | | | BME280, Mic Multiple Nodes Data Dashboard

less

КопироватьРедактировать
[ Sensor Node ] --> [ Wi-Fi HaLow Mesh ] --> [ Central Server ]
      |                    |                       |
  BME280, Mic          Multiple Nodes           Data Dashboard

💬 Final Notes

This project is currently in the prototyping phase. It’s open to collaboration, especially from those familiar with mesh networking, edge ML, or sustainable IoT deployment in tropical environments.

Code (ESP32 + DHT + MQTT, PlatformIO / Arduino IDE)

#include <WiFi.h>
#include <PubSubClient.h>
#include <DHT.h>

#define DHTPIN 4           // GPIO where the DHT is connected
#define DHTTYPE DHT22      // DHT 22 (AM2302)

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID";
const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

const char* mqtt_server = "broker.hivemq.com"; // Use public broker or your own
const char* mqtt_topic = "esp32/envdata";

WiFiClient espClient;
PubSubClient client(espClient);
DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);

void setup_wifi() {
  delay(10);
  Serial.println();
  Serial.print("Connecting to ");
  Serial.println(ssid);
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }

  Serial.println("");
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
}

void reconnect() {
  while (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.print("Attempting MQTT connection...");
    if (client.connect("ESP32Client")) {
      Serial.println("connected");
    } else {
      Serial.print("failed, rc=");
      Serial.print(client.state());
      Serial.println(" try again in 5 sec");
      delay(5000);
    }
  }
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  dht.begin();
  setup_wifi();
  client.setServer(mqtt_server, 1883);
}

void loop() {
  if (!client.connected()) {
    reconnect();
  }
  client.loop();

  float h = dht.readHumidity();
  float t = dht.readTemperature();

  if (!isnan(h) && !isnan(t)) {
    String payload = "{\"temperature\": " + String(t) + ", \"humidity\": " + String(h) + "}";
    client.publish(mqtt_topic, payload.c_str());
    Serial.println("Published: " + payload);
  } else {
    Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
  }

  delay(10000); // Publish every 10 seconds
}

Credits

Odessa Sinclair

1 project • 2 followers

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Wi-Fi HaLow-Powered Micro-Climate & Crowd Sensor for Island

Wi-Fi HaLow-Powered Micro-Climate & Crowd Sensor for Island

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

🧠 Project Overview

🔧 Core Features

🛠 Components List

🌍 Use Cases in Bali

🧪 Future Plans

🖼 Concept Diagram

💬 Final Notes

Code

Code (ESP32 + DHT + MQTT, PlatformIO / Arduino IDE)

Credits

Odessa Sinclair

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