Leveraging IoT and Blockchain Technologies for Wetland Monitoring and Community Engagement

Abstract

Wetlands are vital ecological systems that face growing risks due to human activities and climatic changes. This study introduces a method for monitoring wetlands, utilising the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology. Our approach involves using an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor system to monitor and assess the state of wetlands. Additionally, we actively involve local communities by leveraging blockchain technology. The IoT sensors monitor vital environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, $\mathbf{p H}$, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and conductivity, allowing for immediate data gathering, transmission, and secure storage in the cloud. The integration of blockchain technology enables the facilitation of crowdsourcing, which incentivises users to give useful data regarding wetland conditions. This strategy promotes active participation from the community in environmental preservation, empowering individuals as “citizen sensors.” This paper explains the proposed architecture, consisting of an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor network and an Ethereum blockchain platform. Furthermore, we developed an Ethereum smart contract that evaluates the user data and decides the incentives. We also benchmarked the smart contract, and the test results show that the smart contract is efficient.