IoT Network Infrastructure for the Wine Industry

An IoT Network Infrastructure

An IoT (Internet of Things) network infrastructure is an integrated system that allows physical devices to connect to the internet and communicate with each other to collect, process, and share data within a reference area. The technologies that enable devices to communicate are numerous and have different characteristics that make each one suitable for specific applications.

Communication protocols such as WiFi are essential for transmitting large amounts of information but have significant limitations in terms of coverage and deployment difficulty. Protocols like Bluetooth or Zigbee are often used in indoor environments to connect small devices with simple commands thanks to their ability to expand network coverage. Communication protocols 4G, 5G, LTE, and LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) are commonly used in outdoor environments due to their wide coverage. However, 4G, 5G, LTE networks are heavily dependent on the cellular coverage of the area and impose high energy consumption on electronic devices. LPWAN networks, particularly LoRaWAN, overcome the coverage limitations of cellular networks thanks to their wide coverage range and low interference from physical and natural obstacles. Additionally, LPWAN networks impose very low energy consumption, allowing connected devices to remain active for decades.

Technical Architecture of an IoT Network Infrastructure

A complete IoT network infrastructure is structured around four main architectural components:

1. End Node Devices (Sensors and Actuators)

End nodes are represented by sensors distributed across productive areas. They represent the eyes, ears, and electronic hands of the entire ecosystem. Thanks to them, the fundamental variables of the reference ecosystem are observed and quantified across all locations within the IoT network infrastructure.

With appropriate communication protocols, sensor battery life can reach 10-15 years with standard cells thanks to extremely low duty cycles (<1%).

2. Gateway

Gateways serve as bridges between sensors and the backhaul infrastructure. A professional outdoor gateway can simultaneously manage up to 8 parallel channels and a multitude of sensor nodes.

3. Network Server (NS)

The Network Server is the heart of the IoT network infrastructure. It is the software that manages all sensors within the network, all messages they generate, and the transmission and integration of messages to various applications.

• Device authentication: OTAA (Over-The-Air Activation) or ABP (Activation By Personalization) procedures
• Encryption management: AES-128 session keys for secure end-to-end communications
• Adaptive Data Rate (ADR): dynamic optimization of spreading factor and transmit power
• De-duplication: elimination of packets received from multiple gateways
• Application data forwarding: to Application Server via MQTT or HTTP

4. Application Server

The Application Server receives decoded data from the Network Server and implements specific application logic. In the case of LoraWine, it hosts:

• Data visualization dashboards
• Analytical models and predictive algorithms
• Alarm and notification system
• Historical database
• APIs for third-party integrations

Zigbee: The Network for Widespread Cellar Monitoring

Zigbee is a wireless communication standard based on IEEE 802.15.4 technology, designed for IoT applications requiring low energy consumption and moderate area coverage. It operates in unlicensed frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 915 MHz in North America, 868 MHz in Europe), avoiding conflicts with WiFi and Bluetooth.

Zigbee supports three main topologies: mesh, star, and tree. The mesh topology is the most commonly used and is particularly advantageous because each device can act as a repeater, extending network range through multiple hops. This allows coverage of relatively large areas such as winemaking facilities or wine aging rooms, overcoming obstacles like walls and metal equipment.

Range and Energy Consumption

Typical range is tens of meters in line of sight, but in mesh configuration, range can be extended up to hundreds of meters. Energy consumption is very low: Zigbee sensors can operate on batteries for years.

Zigbee devices are small and are used in a variety of applications. They can be a sensor node collecting information or an electronic actuator activatable remotely. They do not need to be connected by cable and allow for decentralized monitoring of production processes and activation of devices and motors.

Data transmission speed is modest. It is not suitable for transmitting large amounts of data, but it is more than sufficient for time-discretized environmental sensor readings and electronic actuator activations, as communication latency is in the order of milliseconds for short messages.

Security

Zigbee uses a three-layer stack: the physical (PHY) and MAC (Media Access Control) layers are defined by IEEE 802.15.4, while the network, security, and application layers are proprietary to the Zigbee Alliance (Connectivity Standards Institute). Security is implemented with AES-128 encryption and device-to-device authentication.

LoRaWAN: The Optimal LPWAN Protocol for Rural Contexts

LoRaWAN is based on a physical layer called LoRa, which uses chirp spread spectrum modulation, a method that distributes the signal over a wider bandwidth, making it resistant to interference.

In Europe, the commonly used frequency band is ISM 863-870 MHz. Globally, LoRa can operate at 915 MHz, 868 MHz, and 433 MHz.

Range and Energy Consumption

LoRaWAN enables long-range transmissions (over 15 km in rural areas, 3-5 km in heavily urbanized areas) with low energy consumption and reduced interference. Energy consumption is extremely low: LoRaWAN sensors may require battery replacement only after 15 years.

These characteristics allow LoRaWAN devices to be installed in harsh environments, such as valley floors or within plant canopies, and to transmit data periodically (10-30min). In this case too, data transmission speed is modest. However, it is functional and sufficient for periodic environmental sensor readings.

Security

LoRa technology leverages multiple levels of protection such as EUI64 and EUI128 keys, while using the AES CCM (128 bit) standard for encryption and authentication. There are two join modes: OTAA (Over-the-Air-Activation), where the device exchanges a 128-bit key with the network, and ABP (Activation By Personalization).

Standardization

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) has established itself as the standard for IoT connectivity in agricultural monitoring. Unlike traditional cellular networks and other LPWAN solutions, the LoRaWAN standard, which has been formally recognized as an international standard by the ITU for LPWAN networks, is specifically designed for applications requiring extensive coverage and extremely low energy consumption.

Conclusions

An IoT network infrastructure represents a fundamental factor necessary for a data collection and management service. Owning the entire network infrastructure (from devices to software, through gateways and servers) enables flexibility and complete management of the scenarios that can occur in agricultural and oenological contexts characterized by high complexity and heterogeneity of activities and processes. As demonstrated, LoRaWAN and Zigbee represent the optimal technological backbone for professional IoT implementations in viticulture. The combination of range, low consumption, and reduced interference makes these technologies the most suitable for systematic collection of environmental and production data in agricultural contexts.