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Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring
Erasmus, C. S. 2025. Wireless Dendrometer and Environmental Sensing System for Tree Growth Monitoring. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/43a3a1de-75af-429e-acfe-1381b86680b2
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613848778833920 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Erasmus, Christoper Stefan |
| author2 | Booysen, M. J. |
| author_browse | Booysen, M. J. Erasmus, Christoper Stefan |
| author_facet | Booysen, M. J. Erasmus, Christoper Stefan |
| author_sort | Erasmus, Christoper Stefan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Erasmus, C. S. 2025. Wireless Dendrometer and Environmental
Sensing System for Tree Growth Monitoring. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/43a3a1de-75af-429e-acfe-1381b86680b2 |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132202 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:40.195Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132202 Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring Erasmus, Christoper Stefan Booysen, M. J. Drew, David Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Dendrometers Wireless sensor networks Forests and forestry -- Measurement -- Instruments Environmental monitoring -- Instruments UCTD Erasmus, C. S. 2025. Wireless Dendrometer and Environmental Sensing System for Tree Growth Monitoring. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/43a3a1de-75af-429e-acfe-1381b86680b2 Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Eucalypts are fast-growing resources with global plantations. As demand increases, understanding wood formation is essential. While wealthier countries utilise costly precision instruments, researchers in less affluent nations face resource constraints. This study presents a wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system designed to enhance remote tree growth monitoring through a scalable, low-cost approach. The system integrates high-accuracy sensors and advanced wireless communication technologies. A digital twin model analyses temperature-related errors affecting sensor precision, with empirical tests validating the system’s reliability across various environmental conditions. Wireless communication range and efficiency were assessed through extensive field testing. The research estimated digitised dendrometer errors using a digital twin, predicting a drift of -19.87µm for a 20◦C increase, with a thermal drift coefficient of -0.985 µm/◦C. A Monte Carlo simulation of 1000 iterations indicated the mean RMSE decreased from 129.40 µm pre-calibration to 42.61 µm post-calibration, a 67.07% reduction. Empirical evaluations included laboratory micrometer calibration, which reduced RMSE from 109.17 µm to 23.58 µm (78% decrease), and temperature sensitivity tests revealing a thermal drift error of -25.33 µm with a drift coefficient of -1.34 µm/◦C. A two-month field test confirmed moderate to strong correlations between dendrometer measurements and vapour pressure deficit (VPD). The Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), employing LoRa (Long-Range) protocol, ensured a 95.1% data retention rate with data transmission ranges of up to 3.4 km. A missing data imputation algorithm yielded RMSE < 5 µm for randomly sampled missing data and RMSE < 42.76 µm for two days of consecutive missing data. The results demonstrate that this system can reliably capture and transmit data on tree growth, supporting sustainable forestry management. This study contributes a practical, customisable solution for environmental monitoring, providing critical insights for ecological research and resource management. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bloekombome is vinnig groeiende hulpbronne met globale plantasies. Soos die vraag toeneem, is dit noodsaaklik om houtvorming te verstaan. Terwyl ryker lande duur presisie-instrumente gebruik, kom navorsers in minder gegoede lande te staan voor hulpbronbeperkings. Hierdie studie bied ’n draadlose dendrometer en omgewingswaarnemingstelsel aan wat ontwerp is om afgele¨e boomgroeimonitering te verbeter deur ’n skaalbare, laekostebenadering. Die stelsel integreer ho¨eakkuraatheidsensors en gevorderde draadlose kommunikasietegnologie¨e. ’n Digitale tweelingmodel ontleed temperatuurverwante foute wat sensorpresisie be¨ınvloed, met empiriese toetse wat die stelsel se betroubaarheid oor verskeie omgewingstoestande bevestig. Draadlose kommunikasiereeks en doeltreffendheid is deur uitgebreide veldtoetsing beoordeel. Die navorsing het gedigitaliseerde dendrometerfoute met behulp van ’n digitale tweeling beraam, wat ’n drywing van -19.87µm voorspel het vir ’n 20◦C toename, met ’n termiese wegdrywingsko¨effisi¨ent van -0.985 µm/◦C. ’n Monte Carlo-simulasie van 1000 iterasies het aangedui dat die gemiddelde RMSE van 129.40 µm voor-kalibrasie tot 42.61 µm nakalibrasie afgeneem het, ’n 67.07% vermindering. Empiriese evaluasies het laboratoriummikrometerkalibrasie ingesluit, wat RMSE van 109.17 µm tot 23.58 µm (78% afname) verminder het, en temperatuursensitiwiteitstoetse wat ’n termiese drywingsfout van -25.33 aandieliggebringhet.µm met ’n dryfko¨effisi¨ent van -1.34 µm/◦C. ’n Twee maande veldtoets het matige tot sterk korrelasies tussen dendrometermetings en dampdruktekort (VPD) bevestig. Die Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN), wat LoRa (Langafstand) protokol gebruik, het ’n 95.1% databehoudkoers verseker met data-oordragreekse van tot 3.4 km. ’n Vermiste data-imputasie-algoritme het RMSE< 5 µm opgelewer vir ewekansige steekproefneming van ontbrekende data en RMSE< 42.76 µm vir twee dae van opeenvolgende ontbrekende data. Die resultate toon dat hierdie stelsel data oor boomgroei betroubaar kan vaslˆe en oordra, wat volhoubare bosboubestuur ondersteun. Hierdie studie dra ’n praktiese, aanpasbare oplossing vir omgewingsmonitering by, wat kritiese insigte vir ekologiese navorsing en hulpbronbestuur verskaf. Masters 2025-05-29T12:21:56Z 2025-05-29T12:21:56Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132202 Stellenbosch University xvii, 127 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Dendrometers Wireless sensor networks Forests and forestry -- Measurement -- Instruments Environmental monitoring -- Instruments UCTD Erasmus, Christoper Stefan Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title | Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title_full | Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title_fullStr | Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title_short | Wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| title_sort | wireless dendrometer and environmental sensing system for tree growth monitoring |
| topic | Dendrometers Wireless sensor networks Forests and forestry -- Measurement -- Instruments Environmental monitoring -- Instruments UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132202 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT erasmuschristoperstefan wirelessdendrometerandenvironmentalsensingsystemfortreegrowthmonitoring |