Wi-Fi and Vineyards: A Mismatch?

Owners of a USA vineyard are now using Wi-Fi technology to more carefully monitor growing conditions at their site.
California-based Accenture Technology Labs installed 40 wireless units on existing trellising posts around the 30-acre vineyard and fitted them with sensors to measure microclimate data such as soil, air temperature, moisture content, and leaf wetness. The data is sent from sensor to sensor, forming a Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET), which requires less power and equipment than networks using wires or radio transmitters.
Real-time conditions in the vineyard can then be monitored on a secured Web site. The information can help vineyard managers make decisions about when, where and how much to water vines or spray to control mildew. Also, vineyard managers can have the wireless system alert them if something is amiss, such as frost or oversaturated soil.
Although the technology has been tested only for a few months, the initial results are positive. Accenture is developing plans to test the technology in larger vineyards. Certainly, wireless technology can be applied to any industry anywhere.
Read: Wi-Fi Hits the Vineyard [Wine Spectator]