Livestock tracking over LoRa

The problem

Grazing in the Badia happens in areas with no cellular coverage at all, and the shepherd searches for a lost animal by eye and on foot. Losing a single head is a direct loss, and illness is discovered late because its first symptom is reduced movement, which is hard to notice within the herd. The answer isn't a stronger network but a technology that works without one.

How it works

1. The collarEach animal gets a collar with a positioning module and a battery.
2. SendingThe collar broadcasts its location and activity over several kilometers using long-range communication.
3. The stationA station on the farm receives data from all the collars and uploads it.
4. Virtual fenceAny animal leaving the defined area triggers an instant alert.
5. Activity monitoringReduced movement over a long period suggests illness or injury, and triggers an alert.
6. The mapThe dashboard shows the whole herd's locations and each animal's status.

Project features

• It works without internet or a cellular network — the core of the idea.
• The virtual fence prevents losing livestock before it happens.
• The activity indicator detects illness early, worth more than the tracking itself.
• It serves an existing Jordanian sector: livestock farming in the Badia and rural areas.
• The collar is relatively cheap, so a whole herd can be covered.

Expected challenges

These are the main obstacles to expect during the build, laid out clearly so you know them before you start.

• The battery must last months, since the collar can't be charged daily.
• The collar must be durable, as the animal rubs against surfaces, rolls, and goes into water.
• LoRa range drops a lot in mountains and valleys.
• The collar's weight must be comfortable for the animal.
• Collar costs multiply as the herd grows.

The consultation gives you a solution for each one.

Expected committee questions

Prepare your answers in advance: these questions come up often in defenses of similar projects.

1. Why was LoRa chosen instead of GSM or a ready-made GPS tracker?
2. How long does the collar battery last, and how was its power use reduced?
3. How does the virtual fence work, and what happens when an animal leaves it?
4. How can activity data indicate that an animal is sick?

Practice the defense, question by question