A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) application for irrigation facilities management based on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Irrigation facilities that supply agricultural water are distributed at low density across areas with water demand and require efficient operation and maintenance. Traditional manual irrigation facilities management faces critical limitations, such as delays/losses resulting from data handling errors, and facility misidentification. Therefore, an information system for irrigation facilities management could be more efficient if it includes a wireless sensor network (WSN) that uses information and communication technologies (ICTs). We propose a wireless sensor network application for irrigation facilities management based on radio frequency identification (RFID) and quick response (QR) codes. The system was installed in a pilot site in the I-dong irrigation districts in Gyeonggi, South Korea, and was determined to be beneficial for the inspection of agricultural irrigation facilities in the irrigation districts. Real-time information downloading, collecting field data, and updating the condition of the irrigation facilities in terms of operational conditions and maintenance requirements can improve management. The operation results demonstrated the applicability of the ICTs and WSN to agricultural water management and that it provided good portability, recognition, and information gathering abilities in the field.