Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost, Satellite-Enabled Environmental Data Logger

Ground-based environment monitoring networks provide essential data for climate and air quality research. However, traditional monitoring infrastructure in remote areas often requires high upfront and operational costs. Satellite communication technologies offer a solution to reach these remote areas, but existing commercial systems frequently pair expensive data loggers with costly satellite transceivers, thus limiting their deployment potential. 

 

We present a novel satellite-enabled data logger designed to maximize compatibility while minimizing both purchase and operational costs. Our custom-designed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) combines data-logging and satellite transmission into a single unit, leveraging low-cost near-real-time bidirectional communication provided by the Astrocast CubeSat constellation. The integration approach helps reducing the hardware costs and the deployment complexity compared to traditional systems. 

 

The platform is built on an STM32L476 microcontroller (MCU) with 64 MB of internal memory and an integrated real-time clock (RTC), providing low-power operation essential for autonomous field deployments. The board is equipped with an atmospheric pressure sensor, an air temperature and relative humidity sensor, along with multiple communication interfaces for a flexible, sensor-agnostic architecture: UART, I²C, and ADC channels. This design allows seamless integration of different third-party environmental sensors such as atmospheric chemistry, hydrological monitoring or ancillary meteorological measurements, without requiring hardware modifications. 

 

The system pair the custom PCB with an Astronode S module for satellite data transmission, enabling bidirectional data transmission with 2-3 transmission opportunities every day. The design provides extended operational autonomy through low-power management while maintaining regular access to measurement throughout Astrocast's API and web UI. 

 

We demonstrate how this design advances the objectives of ground-based monitoring networks by: (1) reducing deployment barriers to remote monitoring through cost-effective satellite connectivity, (2) supporting flexible sensor integration for cross-disciplinary measurement campaigns, (3) providing a scalable foundation for distributed monitoring networks, and (4) offering a validated, replicable platform for future infrastructure development.