Abstract

Livestock rustling and farmland encroachment are primary drivers of insecurity in most parts of Africa, including Nigeria. Some states, especially in Northern Nigeria, are engulfed by unprecedented crises that precipitated the current state of banditry and kidnappings. This research work leverages the use of technology to combat cattle theft (rustling) and farm encroachment, thereby mitigating the perennial loss of lives and properties in the country. The research proposal will be implemented in stages.

First Stage: Development of a Miniaturized GPS Receiver

The first stage of this research is the development of a novel energy-efficient miniaturized Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver (also called tracker) with an embedded ZigBee module. The miniaturization process entails reducing an existing tracker from a previous research from 4.5 x 4.5 cm to 0.45 cm x 0.45 cm using a 7 or 5 nanometers fabrication process and System-on-Chip (SoC) design. Miniaturization ensures the tracker is concealable on livestock in order to frustrate both rustling and farmland encroachments.

"The proposed energy-efficiency system involves speeding up the computation of GPS geolocation by incorporating a high-speed processor with the GPS. Faster processing translates to shorter draw on battery energy."

Two methods are proposed to manage the energy utilized by 4G LTE to transmit computed geolocation data:

1. The first approach uses a low-power ZigBee to create a self-organizing wireless sensor network (WSN) for cooperative transmission of computed GPS coordinates to the network’s personal area network (PAN) coordinator.
2. The second approach adopts the predictive sleep mode of ZigBee devices at the medium access control (MAC) layer. This later approach ensures each device will broadcast its coordinates to the PAN coordinator at an agreed time when the channel is free.

The proposed system will be evaluated based on battery lifespan and the frequency of reported coordinates. Battery lifespan performance is projected to last 2 years without recharging.

Second Stage: Development of a Mobile Application for Geo-Fences

The second stage of the research is the development of a mobile phone application that will enable users to create virtual fences (geo-fences) around farmlands or restricted areas. Geo-fences will automatically trigger an alarm by issuing a notification that a particular farm/area is either about to be encroached upon by cattle or is currently being encroached. Notification is done by either automatic voice call or SMS.

Health and Safety Considerations

Finally, high electromagnetic radiation of the radio frequency (RF) signal from the trackers can lead to heating of the tissue, which may cause potential health and safety hazards. Therefore, the specific absorption rate (SAR)—a measure of the heating effect that corresponds to the RF energy absorbed in the animal’s body—will be investigated to ascertain that the radiation emitted from the devices is within the internationally accepted limits for the health and physical well-being of humans and cattle.

"At the end of the research, two academic papers will be published in reputable journals. Workshops and presentations to relevant institutions and authorities will be carried out to showcase the importance of the proposed system and to demonstrate its functionalities."

Short Term Goals

Concealable trackers and geo-fences will discourage both livestock rustling and farmland encroachment because rustled livestock can be easily tracked and recovered, while cattle approaching farmlands can be detected and ordered to stay away by calling the herder or cattle owner.

Long Term Goals

1. Concealing trackers on military armaments will discourage compromised security officers from providing arms to bandits, since weapons can be tracked and recovered.
2. Concealing trackers on humans and assets will discourage kidnappings and thefts of assets, since anyone/any asset with a concealed tracker can be easily located and recovered.
3. The project will provide job opportunities to those who wish to install trackers on vehicles, cargos or help farmers to map their farmlands.

Keywords

Livestock Tracking, Farmland Monitoring, Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation, Miniaturization.