EFFECTIVENESS OF LoRa WAN INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGY WILDLIFE MONITORING:

Abstract

The study has assessed effectiveness of LoRaWAN loT technology in wildlife monitoring at TANAPA in Arusha Tanzania. The study was conducted in the Serengeti and Tarangire national parks The study has specifically examined the effectiveness of LoRaWAN in wildlife monitoring, determined challenges that affect effectiveness of LoRaWAN in wildlife monitoring, and explored strategies for enhancing effectiveness of LoRaWAN in wildlife monitoring. The study was theoretically guided by the loT security theory and resource dependence theory. The study employed descriptive research design and used the quantitative approach. Target population was 102, and sample size was 81. Data was collected by use of questionnaire. Simple random sampling technique was used to get the respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed by deploying descriptive statistics using frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations. It was found and concluded that LoRaWAN is significantly effective in monitoring animal movement, movement of poachers, vehicle movements, human and animal conflicts, area of interest of animals, and monitoring bad weather conditions in national parks. It was as well revealed and concluded that main challenges affecting the effectiveness of LoRaWAN in wildlife monitoring, are high costs of maintenance of equipment; shortage of devices; shortage of finance to invest in technology; inadequate skills; and negative attitude on loT. It was also found and concluded that allocating financial resources, provision of training to officers, and deploying adequate equipment are strategies that can significantly enhance effectiveness of LoRaWAN in monitoring wildlife in national parks under TANAPA Therefore, the study concluded that use of LoRaWAN is significantly effective in monitoring wildlife movement, monitoring vehicle movement, monitoring poachers' movement, monitoring human and wildlife conflicts; monitoring area of interest of animals; and monitoring bad weather conditions. It is recommended that TANAPA should implement use of LoRaWAN in all national parks to ensure all wildlife are well monitored and protected. TANAPA should train all of its staff on the use of LoRaWAN loT technologies used in wildlife monitoring. TANAPA should also plan and provide sufficient finances for all matters relating to loT technologies in its annual budgets.