GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system

Project Cost: 10,900

Project Code: 1810

Description of the project:

GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system is used to track the location of Animals in wildlife reserves or national parks. This project utilizes a GPS modem and a GSM modem for this purpose. A forest officer or Government authority person will get these SMS containing Longitude and Latitude.

As the human race or human society is growing, wildlife animals or wild animals are in danger. But as per nature’s rule, every living creature on this earth is important and has an important role ecosystem. Also, we get some medicines or useful drugs from some animals. We have already realized this, so in every country, we see that there are wildlife animal reserves and national parks where these animals can live freely in forests or in a jungle however these are monitored by human beings.

Also nowadays these wildlife national parks have become popular tourist places. Many endangered species or rare species are available or preserved here. For example white tigers, pandas, and many other animals. But these animals also undergo some diseases or there can be some situations where human being attention is required for these animals like vaccination of these animals. If they met with some accident or are hurt then we have to cure their wounds, in such cases, we need to catch those animals and do the required treatments.

The main problem in such situations is that in large wildlife sanctuaries these animals are really hard to locate. Due to this many times, we have to search the entire area.

Detailed Description of the wildlife GPS tracker project:

To avoid such problems we are implementing a project called “Wildlife animal tracking using GPS and GSM technology”. In this project, a GPS modem helps to get the coordinates of the location. This modem can require a minimum of 3 satellites Global Positioning System modem receives location parameters like Longitude and Latitude from the satellite.

We have also used a GSM modem which sends these parameters to a particular mobile number through SMS. This mobile number can be of a Forest officer or any concerned Government authority person. This SMS will help to track the exact location of the animal. And if the animal moves inside the animal reserves or forest then the particular variable location parameters are received.

We can also add a temperature sensor to this project. If the animal has a fever or if there are some wounds on the animal’s body and because of the wounds temperature of the animal rises, then we can send an SMS to the forest officer so he can give immediate attention. This SMS will contain messages like “Temperature crosses threshold level” and this message will also contain GPS coordinates. This project should be attached to the animal body. So as the animal moves from one place to another, the GPS coordinate will change and this change will be intimated using SMS. We can get periodically SMS to the officer’s mobile number

Existing solution for this wildlife animal tracking:

Talking about existing technologies in some countries, many animals have belts on their neck. This belt has a wireless transmitter. A wildlife officer has a receiver in his/her hand and will search the location. However the main drawback of this technique is that range of wireless transmitters is less. In some sensors, it is 100 meters in some sensors it is in few kilometers but not more than that. But as we know that forests and wildlife national parks are hundreds of kilometers in length. And in such situations, these wireless transmitters are not much useful and they are time-consuming. With the help of GPS technology and GSM technology, we can track an animal in a forest of thousands of kilometers in length.

Block Diagram of GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system:

Contents of Text SMS are as below:

Coordinates of Animal:-
Longitude = 26.57954
Latitude = 93.17547

You will get the following documents with this project:

1. Project Report in pdf format and in doc (word) format
2. Circuit diagram
3. PCB layout
4. Microcontroller program in assembly language
5. Hex file of the microcontroller code
6. Datasheets of all the components / ICs used in the project

Project Photographs:

Block diagram Description in detail:

• GPS Modem: We have used a GPS modem to retrieve and longitude and latitude of the location. This GPS modem communicates using serial communication with the microcontroller. GPS modem sends a bunch of data to the microcontroller. This bunch of Data contains many parameters which include longitude and latitude.
• GSM Modem: We have used a GSM modem to send SMS to the user or we can say to the forest officer. We need to insert a GSM simcard into this GSM modem. GSM modem also communicates with a microcontroller using serial communication. It receives various commands from the microcontroller which are used to send SMS.
• Temperature sensor: We have used a temperature sensor to detect the body temperature of animals. The temperature sensor is an analog sensor. Which means it gives variable voltage as per the variation in the body temperature.
• Comparator: The output of the temperature sensor is in analog format but the microcontroller is not able to read analog voltage. It requires digital input of digital data. For this purpose, we have used a comparator between the temperature sensor and the microcontroller. The function of the comparator is to give high or low output if the temperature is above or below the threshold level respectively. This comparator has a fixed voltage to its negative terminal. And at its positive terminal, we give an output of the temperature sensor. So whenever the temperature crosses the threshold level the comparator gives low output to the microcontroller.
• LCD display: It is used to show various messages on LCD. Although LCD does not have much use in actual applications still it is really very useful for testing purposes and while developing this project. Because we can show various messages like Sending SMS or we can display the longitude and latitude of the current location on LCD display.
• Microcontroller: This is the important block of this project. It performs various functions like reading coordinates from a GPS modem. It finds out the longitude and latitude from this data. Sends a command to the GSM modem for sending SMS. It reads data from Comparator.

Wildlife animal tracking on Google map

Once the user has received the location parameter in the format of text SMS, then he can use this location on the map to find the exact geographical location. Finding out the location on a printed map is quite difficult and it will consume lots of time. However, nowadays many website providers have online maps. Google map is one of the most used and famous online map provider services. Users can read the text SMS and then they can type these parameters in Google Maps to find the exact location.

Advantages:

1. This method is fast and convenient as compared to other systems.
2. This does not require human attention as this is a completely self-independent and automated system.

This project has one limitation: – In actual use this project will be operated on a rechargeable battery. So this battery needs to be recharged. For the longer operation of the battery, we need to use low-power consumption devices, ICs, and components; this will increase the cost of the system.

Applications of GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system:

1. Wildlife animal tracking — To track the animals in forests and wildlife national parks.
2. We can use it for domestic purposes to detect pet animals.
3. In criminal cases many times we see that police department uses dogs to find out the traces of criminals, so this project can be used in such situations.

Future Development:

1. We can add more sensors to monitor health parameters.

Video of the project: GPS based Wildlife animal tracking system

YouTube video coming soon. The video for this project is not available right now, we are planning to upload a video soon. Meanwhile, you can watch a video of another project in the category of GPS-based projects.