Satellite-Enabled Remote Sensing and Telemetry
Provides reliable primary or redundancy connectivity in a broad range of environmental monitoring use cases.
How we Support Environmental Sensing
Truly Global Connectivity
Rugged and remote topography results in limited infrastructure and patchy cellular coverage. Satellite offers two-way connectivity, with no tower infrastructure, connecting sensors anywhere globally with a clear sky view.
Scalability
Our services are designed to scale, along with our customers’ growth. Our device-agnostic IoT platform (with developer friendly APIs) and technical expertise support your development, no matter how big or small.
Withstanding the Elements
If sensors are located in polar regions or in a data buoy at sea, for example, they need to be tough. Our rugged, IP-rated satellite devices are capable of surviving water submergence and extreme temperatures, on land or sea.
Creating Resiliency
When sensor data connectivity is mission-critical, such as in disaster recovery, there is a risk that the existing network might fail. Satellite connectivity ensures resilience, providing the data you need to make key decisions and take action.
Solving Sensor Network Communication Challenges
84% of IoT deployments are addressing or have the potential to address the UN’s sustainable development goals. Satellite IoT holds immense potential for reshaping global sustainability initiatives.
Global Connectivity
Keeping Power Usage to a Minimum
Managing Your Data
Reliable, Secure Network Visibility
Remote Device Access
Remote off-grid sensor networks suffer from a lack of cellular connectivity, unreliable date and time stamps on messages, and the frequency of node failure during transmission.
Satellite connectivity provides secure, two-way, reliable connectivity for your sensor data, or redundancy, if the cellular or LPWAN network fails.
Iridium’s service is renowned for its 100% global connectivity and flexible data rates. Connecting you to your individual sensors, data loggers or gateways anywhere with a clear view of the sky.
Our RockREMOTE Mini and Mini OEM devices testify to our commitment to support low power networking. When power supply is limited, we try to keep the energy demands of our satellite devices low.
RockREMOTE Mini provides message-based and TCP/ IP connectivity. It uses less than 0.25 watts in receive mode and peak current draw is less than 1.66 amps at 12 volts. It also supports Power over Ethernet and is easily integrated into existing enclosures.
With versatile connectivity options, our devices connect sensors, or backhaul LPWAN gateway data to destinations of your choice. All data can be managed via our Cloudloop Data platform or via our developer-friendly APIs.
You can route it anywhere, including your inbox, so you can pick it up from your laptop, away from volcanic or landslide activity. With pre-coded end destinations built into the Cloudloop platform, we’ve done much of the development work, so you don’t have to.
We understand the need for control and security for sensitive real-time data that informs critical decision-making, government and environmental policy, or emergency response.
Supported by Cloudloop Data and NOC (Network Operating Centre), take a real-time view of your data transmissions down to packet level, IP address, and geographical origin, and amend firewall rules to protect your transmissions.
So you always have a handle on your satellite connectivity and network performance, giving full peace of mind.
Cloudloop Device Manager enables you to connect to your device remotely. You can access service and system logs to enable remote troubleshooting and update the firmware of your satellite device, no matter where you are located.
This is ideal when your network is positioned in an unhospitable and/or hard to reach area, as it eliminates the cost and risk of sending someone into the field to resolve the issue.
“Ground Control improves the efficiency and quality of our environmental data gathering. By installing a RockBLOCK in our PTM we can guarantee a great investment and low running costs, reliability, resilience, operator ease of use installation and operation, data accuracy, quality assurance, quality control and data security.”
Obscape Environmental Monitoring
Connecting your Sensors
Small Data Volumes
How we support this sector
Iridium SBD services offer an affordable alternative satellite link for messaging and lower capacity data requirements. Ideal for sensors, and remote telematics, the RockBLOCK 9603 and RockBLOCK Plus offer an integrator or fully encapsulated solution for backhauling your data.If you're looking for a remote switch or variable sensing measurement device, the RockBLOCK Switch & Sense capabilities, with both analog and digital input/outputs and serial interfaces, plus primary satellite connectivity provide a versatile means of interfacing with remote equipment and sensor data.
Gateway Connectivity
How we support this sector
If IP or IMT connectivity is a requirement and your power supplies are limited, the RockREMOTE Mini and OEM offer very versatile connectivity solutions.With several interface options to connect you to your IoT gateway, data logger, and serial and sensor devices. These satellite gateways are the smallest and lightest Certus 100 satellite devices in our range.
Edge Computing
How we support this sector
With more compute capability our MQTT broker devices enable sensor data to be passed over the Iridium Certus IMT network, allowing data packet sizes of up to 100,000 bytes and helping to minimize IoT costs.For critical real-time data transmissions, the RockREMOTE series features edge computing and can optimize data transport to report by exception, keeping the airtime cost down. In addition to LTE failover, these devices support TCP/IP and video data compression software, enabling high-resolution image and sound capture.
Who uses Ground Control for Remote Environmental Sensing?
Scientists & Environmental Researchers
Biology & Research Technicians
University Research Programmes
Wildlife & Environment Management
Photographers / Videographers
NGOs, Governments & Commissions
Environmental Charities / Activists
Satellite-Enabled Environmental Solutions
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Satellite-Enabled Tsunami Early Warning System
As a critical communications network, there was never any question that ASC’s early warning system would need to utilise satellite connectivity, both for the coverage requirements and network reliability. Commercial terrestrial power and communications networks tend to perform poorly in a disaster – either through overuse or damage to their infrastructure.
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Automated Landslide Monitoring
Slide Sentinel is a fully automated landslide monitoring system using RTK. It regularly monitors landslide activity with high spatiotemporal resolution and centimetre-level accuracy for long-term deployments. Measuring this way aids in early warning information and limits the use of invasive and expensive drilling.
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The role RockBLOCK 9603 Plays in the Removal of Carbon from Open Oceans
Running Tide is developing a global carbon removal system to integrate & amplify natural carbon removal pathways. Here’s how Satellite IoT – specifically the RockBLOCK 9603, powered by the Iridium network – helps.
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Environmental Monitoring and Reporting
A Government Agency responsible for coastal, stormwater and catchment management has assigned Ground Control customer Obscape to assist with reporting on areas such as – monitoring and reporting on catchment management, flood risk areas, storm drains and drainage ditches with the aid of the RockBLOCK.
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BGAN M2M’s Role in Soil Moisture Monitoring to Help Combat Climate Change
As well as optimum vegetation and crop management through soil moisture monitoring, measuring soil moisture also helps to inform our understanding of how the natural environment responds to climate change. Here’s how the IoT Pro (BGAN M2M) service is supporting this initiative.
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Keeping Canada’s Waterways Clean and Safe with RockBLOCK Plus
2,700 wrecked boats present a hazard for Canada’s pristine marine environment. Incorporated into Barnacle Systems’ Rapid Deploy units, here’s the role satellite IoT plays in the clean-up operation.
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Iceberg Monitoring with the RockSTAR
The Laboratory for Cryospheric Research is dedicated to the monitoring and understanding of the frozen earth, including glaciers, ice caps, ice shelves, snow, and sea ice.
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Preventing Illegal Deforestation
The world’s two largest rainforests, the Congo Basin and the Amazon, are under threat from illegal extraction activities. Unfortunately, authorities have long lacked the means and mechanisms to deal with these illegalities which destroy ecosystems and undermine both forest and indigenous people’s livelihoods.
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How RockBLOCKs Can Transform IoT Projects With Global Connectivity
Cellular connectivity only covers 15% of the globe. Learn how the RockBLOCK suite can help simplify IoT expansion with pole-to-pole connectivity.
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RockBLOCK selected for KTH Sweden Underwater Sensing Buoy
The Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden developed the LoTUS (long-term underwater sensing) buoy, a system for collecting oceanographic data from perhaps the most remote place on the planet – the polar region seafloor.
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Would you like to Trial Our Satellite Device in Your Sensor Network?
Simply complete the form, and one of our technical team members will respond with objective, expert advice. Or if you prefer to speak to someone directly, call us on +44 (0) 1452 751940 (Europe, Asia, Africa) or +1.805.783.4600 (North and South America).
