Introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) and Sensor Networks
The Internet of Things (IoT) is playing an increasingly important role in the collection of geodata. Sensors, microcontrollers, and GPS make it possible to link measurements directly to a location (geolocation) and share this data via the internet.
More and more datasets start with a physical measurement in the real world. Sensors measure, for example, temperature, air quality, soil moisture, or other environmental factors. These sensor measurements form the basis for applications such as smart cities, environmental monitoring, and digital twins.
However, there is an entire chain of technology between a sensor measurement and a dataset that you can use in a map or analysis. A microcontroller reads sensor data, adds location data via GPS, and sends the data via Wi-Fi to an API. The data is then stored in a database and made available as geodata.
In this course, we’ll build the entire IoT and geodata chain ourselves.
We’ll be working with an Arduino Nano ESP32, a powerful microcontroller with built-in Wi-Fi. Instead of C++, we’ll use MicroPython, a Python implementation for microcontrollers. This allows you to work with familiar Python concepts while controlling hardware.
We send the sensor data via Wi-Fi to a backend. This backend runs in Docker and is built with Python (FastAPI) and PostgreSQL/PostGIS. The measurements are stored there and published as GeoJSON, a widely used standard for geodata on the web.
This way, you’ll learn about the entire pipeline:
sensor → microcontroller → IoT device → Wi-Fi → API → database → GeoJSON → map
Setting up and using the database is outside the scope of this course; see our follow-up course on that topic: xxx
During the course, we’ll also examine the architecture behind these types of systems. You’ll gain insight into how IoT sensors, web APIs, databases, and geodata standards together form a modern geodata infrastructure.
What you’ll learn in this course
During this two-day course, you’ll learn how to build and program an IoT sensor using MicroPython, and how sensor data is ultimately made available as geodata.
You will learn, among other things:
- how microcontrollers work
- how to program a microcontroller with MicroPython
- how to connect sensors and read sensor data
- how to use a GPS module for geolocation
- how to combine sensor data with location data
- how IoT devices send data to an API via Wi-Fi
- how sensor data is stored in a database
- how data is made available as GeoJSON
- how the entire IoT and geodata chain works
By the end of the course, you will have built a working prototype of a geo-sensor.
Why choose this course
Many IoT courses focus solely on electronics or solely on software. In this course, we combine both and also establish a clear link to Geo-ICT and geodata.
A key advantage is that we use MicroPython. This allows people with Python experience to start programming hardware relatively quickly.
You’ll learn not only how a microcontroller works, but also how sensor data ultimately becomes part of a geodata system or mapping application.
Who is this course for
This course is intended for professionals and students who want to understand how IoT sensors and geodata come together.
The course is suitable for:
- GIS specialists
- geodata analysts
- Python developers
- researchers conducting field measurements
- anyone interested in IoT and geodata
No prior knowledge of electronics or embedded systems is required. Basic knowledge of Python is helpful but not required.
