Application of Wireless Sensor Networks for Advancements in Non Intrusive Precision Beekeeping

Abstract

Honey bees play a vital role in many ecological and environmental processes which are of immense value to all life forms. In the last fifty years, their contribution to the pollination of dependent crops has increased three folds, playing a key role in ecological systems, industrial crop production, production of commercial products with medicinal properties. The conventional method involves manual inspection, which requires the bee keeper to visually inspect the activities by opening the hive. This causes agitation among the bees. In addition, this method is purely based on experience of the bee keeper and is prone to human error. These factors have led to the need for advancement in apicultural techniques bringing under its umbrella numerous researchers working on various specializations. This work presents a brief discussion on some of the systems developed based on the concepts of Wireless Sensor Networks which have been deployed to monitor bee health and honey production, detect abnormal activities like swarming, absconding of bees, bee hive robbery and identification of queen-less states.