Invisible Data Logger

Log agricultural data without expensive proprietary equipment using commodity hardware and open-source tools.

Purpose

Capture field, equipment, and environmental data using affordable, accessible technology. Enable data collection capabilities similar to expensive farm management software subscriptions using smartphones, basic sensors, and open-source software. Farmers can log, store, and analyze their own data without paying for proprietary systems.

Problem Solved

Farmers want data-driven decision making but face barriers:
- Proprietary farm software subscriptions cost $500-$5,000 annually
- Equipment manufacturer data capture requires expensive equipment
- Data is locked in proprietary formats unusable elsewhere
- Cloud-based systems require internet connectivity in remote areas
- Subscription software stops working when payments lapse
- Data ownership and privacy concerns with cloud platforms
- Small farms can't justify expensive precision agriculture equipment
- Mobile connectivity is unreliable in rural areas

Invisible Data Logger provides affordable, offline-capable data logging using hardware farmers already own.

Capabilities

• Mobile Data Collection: Use smartphone apps for field data entry
• Voice Logging: Record field notes via voice-to-text
• Photo Logging: Capture and annotate field photos with metadata
• GPS Tracking: Log field boundaries, sampling points, and observation locations
• Sensor Integration: Connect low-cost IoT sensors for automated logging
• Offline Mode: Collect data without internet connectivity
• Sync When Available: Automatically sync data when connection restored
• Export Capabilities: Export data in standard formats (CSV, JSON, GeoJSON)
• Simple Dashboard: Basic visualization of collected data
• Automated Reminders: Remind users to log routine data (field walks, equipment checks)
• Template-Based Entry: Pre-configured forms for common data types
• Barcode/QR Scanning: Scan equipment tags or product labels
• Voice Commands: Hands-free data entry during operations
• Local Storage: All data stored locally on farm equipment or mobile device
• Data Backup: Backup to USB or network drive

Instructions

Usage by AI Agent

1. Configure Data Collection Points
2. Identify what data to collect (field observations, equipment hours, weather, inputs)
3. Create data entry templates for each data type
4. Set up automated collection points (sensors, GPS)

5. Configure voice logging for hands-free use

6. Set Up Mobile Collection

7. Install mobile data collection app
8. Configure offline data storage
9. Set up sync preferences (WiFi, USB, manual)
10. Create user-friendly entry forms

11. Configure voice recognition settings

12. Integrate Sensors

13. Connect temperature/humidity sensors to storage areas
14. Set up soil moisture probes in key fields
15. Install equipment hour meters if not present
16. Configure data collection intervals

17. Set up alerts for sensor readings outside thresholds

18. Establish Collection Routines

19. Schedule regular data collection tasks
20. Create reminder notifications for routine logging
21. Train farm workers on data collection methods
22. Establish backup procedures

23. Document data collection workflow

24. Manage and Sync Data

25. Collect data in field using mobile app
26. Use voice logging during equipment operation
27. Take photos with automatic metadata capture
28. Sync data to central storage when available

29. Create regular backups to external storage

30. Analyze Collected Data

31. Export data for analysis in spreadsheet or specialized tools
32. Generate basic reports and summaries
33. Identify trends and patterns
34. Correlate data types (e.g., weather vs. field observations)

Hardware Options

Mobile Data Collection

• Smartphone: Any modern smartphone with camera, GPS, and microphone
• Tablet: Larger screen for easier data entry
• ** ruggedized tablets:** For harsh field conditions (optional)

Low-Cost Sensors

• Temperature/Humidity: $10-20 (DHT22, SHT31)
• Soil Moisture: $15-30 (capacitive soil moisture sensors)
• Rain Gauge: $25-50 (tipping bucket rain gauge)
• Equipment Hour Meter: $10-30 (digital hour meter)
• GPS Module: $20-40 (for equipment without built-in GPS)

Storage

• USB Drive: Backup data storage
• External Hard Drive: Central data storage
• Raspberry Pi: Local data server (optional, $50-100)
• NAS: Network-attached storage for multiple users

Data Types to Log

Field Operations

• Field work performed (tillage, planting, spraying, harvest)
• Equipment used and hours
• Conditions during operation (weather, soil moisture)
• Issues encountered (equipment problems, field conditions)
• Yield observations during harvest

Crop Conditions

• Stand establishment counts
• Pest pressure observations
• Disease symptoms
• Weed pressure and species identification
• Weather damage reports
• Growth stage observations

Equipment

• Daily/weekly equipment hours
• Fuel consumption
• Maintenance performed
• Equipment issues or breakdowns
• Repair costs and parts

Inputs

• Fertilizer applications (product, rate, date, field)
• Chemical applications (product, rate, date, field, conditions)
• Seed usage (variety, rate, date, field)
• Irrigation applications (timing, amount, method)

Environment

• Daily weather observations
• Rainfall measurements
• Temperature readings (air and soil)
• Soil moisture readings
• Wind observations

Financial

• Input purchases (receipts, costs)
• Equipment repairs and maintenance costs
• Fuel purchases
• Labor hours (if tracking)

Tools

• Python 3.8+ for data management and processing
• SQLite for local data storage
• Flask/Django for optional web interface
• Kivy/BeeWare for mobile app (optional)
• Requests for sync when connected
• OpenCV/PIL for image processing
• SpeechRecognition for voice-to-text
• Pandas for data analysis
• Matplotlib for basic visualization

Environment Variables

# Database Configuration
DATA_DB_PATH=/opt/invisible-logger/data.db
BACKUP_PATH=/opt/invisible-logger/backups
AUTO_BACKUP_ENABLED=true
BACKUP_INTERVAL=daily

# Mobile Collection
MOBILE_APP_ENABLED=true
MOBILE_DATA_PATH=/mobile/data
SYNC_ON_WIFI=true
SYNC_INTERVAL_HOURS=1

# Voice Logging
VOICE_RECOGNITION_ENABLED=true
VOICE_LANGUAGE=en-US
VOICE_SAVE_AUDIO=false

# Sensor Integration
SENSOR_ENABLED=true
SENSOR_DATA_INTERVAL=300  # seconds
SENSOR_ALERT_ENABLED=true

# GPS Configuration
GPS_ENABLED=true
GPS_ACCURACY=10  # meters

# Export Settings
EXPORT_FORMAT=csv
EXPORT_INCLUDE_IMAGES=true
EXPORT_PATH=/opt/invisible-logger/exports

# Logging
LOG_LEVEL=info
LOG_FILE=/var/log/invisible-data-logger.log

# Notifications
REMINDER_ENABLED=true
REMINDER_TIMES=08:00,17:00
NOTIFICATION_SOUND=default

# Backup Settings
BACKUP_TO_USB=true
USB_MOUNT_POINT=/media/usb
BACKUP_RETENTION_DAYS=90

Database Schema

Observations Table

CREATE TABLE observations (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  observation_type TEXT NOT NULL,  -- field, equipment, weather, input
  category TEXT,
  subcategory TEXT,
  date DATE NOT NULL,
  time TEXT,
  field_id INTEGER,
  equipment_id INTEGER,
  latitude REAL,
  longitude REAL,
  gps_accuracy REAL,
  notes TEXT,
  recorded_by TEXT,
  synced BOOLEAN DEFAULT FALSE,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

Observation Data Table

CREATE TABLE observation_data (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  observation_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
  data_key TEXT NOT NULL,
  data_value TEXT,
  data_value_numeric REAL,
  data_unit TEXT,
  FOREIGN KEY (observation_id) REFERENCES observations(id)
);

Images Table

CREATE TABLE images (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  observation_id INTEGER,
  file_path TEXT NOT NULL,
  description TEXT,
  taken_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  FOREIGN KEY (observation_id) REFERENCES observations(id)
);

Sensor Readings Table

CREATE TABLE sensor_readings (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  sensor_id INTEGER NOT NULL,
  sensor_type TEXT NOT NULL,
  reading_value REAL NOT NULL,
  unit TEXT,
  reading_timestamp TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  location_id INTEGER,
  FOREIGN KEY (sensor_id) REFERENCES sensors(id)
);

Sensors Table

CREATE TABLE sensors (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  name TEXT NOT NULL,
  sensor_type TEXT NOT NULL,  -- temperature, humidity, soil_moisture, rain
  location TEXT,
  field_id INTEGER,
  collection_interval INTEGER,
  alert_threshold_min REAL,
  alert_threshold_max REAL,
  active BOOLEAN DEFAULT TRUE
);

Voice Logs Table

CREATE TABLE voice_logs (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  audio_file_path TEXT,
  transcribed_text TEXT,
  observation_id INTEGER,
  recorded_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
  confidence_score REAL
);

Reminders Table

CREATE TABLE reminders (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  reminder_type TEXT NOT NULL,
  reminder_text TEXT,
  time TEXT NOT NULL,
  days TEXT,  -- comma-separated days of week
  active BOOLEAN DEFAULT TRUE
);

Data Entry Templates

Field Observation Template

Date: [auto-populate]
Field: [dropdown]
Observation Type: [dropdown]
  - Crop condition
  - Pest pressure
  - Disease symptoms
  - Weather damage
  - Other

Description: [text or voice]
Severity: [Low/Medium/High]
Action Taken: [text or voice]
Follow-up Required: [Yes/No]
Photos: [camera button]
GPS Location: [auto-capture]

Equipment Log Template

Date: [auto-populate]
Equipment: [dropdown]
Operation Type: [dropdown]
  - Routine operation
  - Maintenance performed
  - Issue observed
  - Other

Hours Today: [number]
Total Hours: [auto-calculate]
Description: [text or voice]
Photos: [camera button]

Input Application Template

Date: [auto-populate]
Field: [dropdown]
Input Type: [dropdown]
  - Fertilizer
  - Chemical
  - Seed
  - Irrigation
  - Other

Product: [text or scan barcode]
Rate: [number]
Unit: [dropdown]
Method: [dropdown]
Total Quantity: [auto-calculate]
Cost: [number]
Conditions: [text]
GPS: [auto-capture field boundary]

Voice Commands

Enable hands-free data entry with voice commands:

Field Observation:
"Log field observation North 40 crop condition standing water in low areas severity medium"

Equipment Log:
"Log equipment combine operation 4.5 hours today total 245 hours"

Input Application:
"Log input application North 40 fertilizer 28-0-0 rate 30 gallons per acre total 1215 gallons"

Weather:
"Log weather observation 0.5 inches rain temperature 78 degrees"

General Note:
"Take note remember to check planter calibration before next planting"

Sensor Setup Examples

Soil Moisture Sensor (Arduino/ESP32)

import sqlite3
import time
import board
import adafruit_dht

# Initialize sensor
dht = adafruit_dht.DHT22(board.D4)

# Database connection
conn = sqlite3.connect('/opt/invisible-logger/data.db')

while True:
    try:
        # Read sensor
        temperature = dht.temperature
        humidity = dht.humidity

        # Store reading
        cursor = conn.cursor()
        cursor.execute("""
            INSERT INTO sensor_readings
            (sensor_id, sensor_type, reading_value, unit)
            VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?)
        """, (1, 'humidity', humidity, '%'))
        conn.commit()

        # Check thresholds
        if humidity < 30 or humidity > 90:
            # Trigger alert
            print(f"ALERT: Humidity {humidity}% outside range")

        time.sleep(300)  # Wait 5 minutes

    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}")
        time.sleep(60)

Temperature/Humidity Sensor (Storage Monitoring)

Monitor grain bin temperature to detect spoilage risk.

Equipment Hour Meter

Connect to equipment ignition circuit or use vibration sensor to log equipment usage.

Export Formats

CSV Export

observation_id,date,time,observation_type,field,category,notes,latitude,longitude
1,2024-01-15,08:30,field_observation,North 40,crop_condition,Standing water in low areas due to recent rain,41.8781,-87.6298
2,2024-01-15,14:45,equipment_log,combine,maintenance,Changed oil and filters,,,

GeoJSON Export

For mapping field observations and sample points:

{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [
    {
      "type": "Feature",
      "geometry": {
        "type": "Point",
        "coordinates": [-87.6298, 41.8781]
      },
      "properties": {
        "observation_type": "field_observation",
        "date": "2024-01-15",
        "category": "pest_pressure",
        "notes": "Aphids detected in 50% of plants"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Examples

See examples/ directory for:
- Setting up mobile data collection
- Installing soil moisture sensors
- Voice logging setup
- Data export and analysis

References

Hardware Resources

• Arduino: Platform for sensor integration
• Raspberry Pi: Local data server option
• Adafruit: Sensor components and tutorials

Software Resources

• OpenDataKit: Open-source mobile data collection
• KODI: Field data collection platform
• OpenFarm: Open-source farm management

Technical References

See references/technical-docs.md for:
- Sensor integration guides
- API documentation
- Database schema details
- Integration with other tools

Troubleshooting

Mobile App Issues

App not syncing:
- Check WiFi connection
- Verify sync settings
- Try manual sync
- Check for app updates

GPS not capturing:
- Enable location services
- Check GPS accuracy
- Verify location permissions
- Try outdoor location

Sensor Issues

Sensor not reading:
- Check connections
- Verify power supply
- Test sensor individually
- Check data logs for errors

Readings seem wrong:
- Verify sensor calibration
- Check for interference
- Compare to manual readings
- Replace sensor if needed

Data Issues

Missing data entries:
- Check sync status
- Look for unsaved records
- Review backup files
- Check application logs

Export fails:
- Check export path permissions
- Verify disk space
- Check file size limits
- Try different export format

Testing

1. Unit Testing
2. Test database operations
3. Verify sensor data capture
4. Test export functionality

5. Check backup procedures

6. Integration Testing

7. Test mobile app sync
8. Verify voice recognition
9. Test sensor integration

10. Check data export to analysis tools

11. Field Testing

12. Test data collection in field conditions
13. Verify offline functionality
14. Test sensor durability
15. Check battery life for mobile devices

Version History

• 1.0.0 - Initial release with mobile collection and sensor integration

License

MIT License - Open source, free to use, modify, and distribute.

Support

For issues, questions, or contributions:
- GitHub Issues: https://github.com/farmfriend-labs/agent-skills-farming/issues
- Email: [email protected]