2012 1st International Conference on Future Trends in Computing and Communication Technologies

Microcontroller Based Water Level Indicator Using GSM Modem: Design And Application
Melaty Amirruddin, Nurhakimah M. Mukhtar, Hana A. Halim, Nur S. Noorpi
School of Electrical Systems Engineering Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) Perlis, Malaysia melaty@unimap.edu.my, nurhakimah@unimap.edu.my, hanahalim@unimap.edu.my, nursabrina@unimap.edu.my
AbstractRecent advances in communication technology, made new trends to emerge in monitoring system. The most popular standard for mobile phones in the world is Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). Because of the used of wireless remote is more in an application, the smart water level indicator is presented. In this paper, we will discuss about the monitoring system to monitor the changes of water level from time to time and directly send an alert to user via GSM cellular network immediately. This paper comprises of three parts, which is the main part comprising the development of the system that capable to detect water level using microcontroller. The microcontroller known as brain of the system is responsible of processing network protocol, which comprises of transmitting packets and receiving packets. The second part is the development of the system that can process the data that has been collected based on the deepness of water level. The last part is the system, which modulates the signal that has been collected and it will transmit the modulated signal via the antenna. Then, the signal will be received by the receiver to be displayed on the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Overall, the system designed comprise of hardware design and software development. The project target is to implement as water level warning tool by respective local authorized. KeywordsWater level indicator; microcontroller; Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) modem; Graphical User Interface (GUI); SMS; sensor

I.

INTRODUCTION

Nowadays, humanity more interested to make it world into a modernism without think about the side effect through the world. From their activities it will caused global climate change and wherever disaster strikes without warning. The formatter will need to create these components, incorporating the applicable criteria that follow. Over five years ago, our country is often shocked by the terrible flood disaster. Several neighborhoods are affect is on eastern of Sabah and several neighborhoods at Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah [1]. The placement nearly the main river and lowlying areas is possible to affected. During floods occur, it give affect in human life and their property. According to sources from Department of Drainage and Irrigation (JPS), the losses are close to RM 50 million to repair the damage caused by this disaster. In addition, the statistical data show the number of victims almost 40,000 people [2]. From the 79

observation, it happens when the water increase to dangerous level in drastically and not monitored by the authorities. However, this condition can be prevented if the authorities always know the current state of the water level. So, based on the lack of delivery data collected in the information system, some innovation needs to be done to assist the authorities in tackling this problem and make the system more organized[3]. Therefore, designing the water level detector is one of the innovations to transfer data in some form and send it to authority at control tower. This water level detector will operate in 24 hour per week. These systems also give an alert to authority to take immediate action if water level increases to dangerous level [3]. The system can be applied at the river-banks, low-lying areas, dam and the village far from town and also can be used for industrial sector [1],[3]. The more explanation will discuss on methodology in chapter 3. Therefore, in line with development of modern world, remote monitoring system has more in an application. Remote monitoring system is an effective method to transmit, analyzed, manage and give a feedback the goal of information. According to the transmission method of monitoring system, if an alert condition occurs it will send a signal through Short Messaging System (SMS) gateway and the authorized personal will be notify with the dangerous stage of water level. From the alert message authorized person will take an immediate action [4]. However, this propose project not only focus for flood problem only but it include also about the problem face in industry. With the implementation of this project, it will reduce the number of workers involved during a work in progress. In addition, it shows that the use of this tool is not limited, but it can be modified to suit the place and requirements the use of these tools itself. II. SYSTEM DESIGN AND DESCRIPTION

Overall, the system designed comprise of hardware design and software development. The general block diagram of smart water level detector monitoring system is as follows:
Water Level Detector Microcontroller GUI Authorized person

Fig. 1. Block diagram of smart water level detector monitoring system

2012 1st International Conference on Future Trends in Computing and Communication Technologies

A. Microcontroller Microcontroller will be a brain of system. Same way as humans, brain will control all action based on what they planned. Therefore, to make sure all the system operate successfully the deciding type of Programmable Integrated circuit (PIC) is important. The main criteria to decide the PIC is size, performance, features and price. After that, choose the serial interface to uploading the program and retrieve data logged on the controller for reporting the purposes between microcontroller and PC. The PC was to perform the user input as well as gathering, processing and displaying data. As well as performing these tasks locally, it also must be able to communicate with the Graphical User Interface (GUI) to remote access of the system. Figure 2 shows the higher order bits are the status register for family controller PIC16F877A.

time and easier to understand the programming language. Others features of this software is it already provide the compiler for run the system build such as command buttons, text boxes, and etc. on the form provide. Before the GUI is built, the entire requirements for the system are identified based on the following basic function of the system needed: i) Access to data ii) Access to monitoring water level from time to time iii) Ability to connect hardware component with personal computer. iv) Ability to give information to authorized personnel for immediate action. v) Ability to send alert message to authorized person via SMS. The feature of the software is able to read the incoming input data from the controller and retrieve the relevant data from database based on the water level sensor. C. Short Message System (SMS) Gateway Global System of communication for Mobile (GSM) one of the components will be used to build a network between GUI application and user. Besides that, to connect the GSM modem with GUI interface HyperTerminal software has been used. The HyperTerminal software will read the Atcommand and allow user send and retrieve the alert SMS about the current water level condition and the dangerous level can cause the flood. For this project, all the Atcommand to send the alert through the SMS gateway will be writing on the HyperTerminal field. The features of this software is can send and retrieve the serial port using on personal computer. Here the figure shows the connection between Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 with GSM modem.

Fig. 3. Connection of SMS Gateway

Fig. 2. Higher order bits are from the status register [22]

III.

METHODOLOGY

B. Graphical User Interface (GUI) In this stage, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 has been used to provide the GUI that is user friendly with monitoring system. In additional, Visual Basic programming used to link between: i) water level detector to personal computer ii) personal computer to GSM modem Visual Basic interface have some unique feature which is that can make some powerful application with a lots less 80

The development of water level detector comprising hardware and software design. Figure 4 shows the overall flow chart of the water level detector monitoring system developed. The operations of water level detectors are explained as follows: i) Probes are labeled as F will detect the current stage of water level. The first green color, LED D1 will turn ON which indicates the normal condition of water level. ii) When water reached level 1, probe F detects the

2012 1st International Conference on Future Trends in Computing and Communication Technologies

water level and sensor will operate automatically, hence, LED D1 and LED D2 will turn ON. iii) When water reached level 2, sensor which indicates yellow color LED D3 will turn ON automatically. iv) When water reached level 3, sensor which indicates yellow color LED D3 will turn ON automatically. v) When water reached level 4, sensor which indicates orange color LED D3 will turn ON automatically. vi) When water reached level 5, sensor which indicates red color LED D3 will turn ON automatically and at the same time, an alert message will send to authorized person via SMS. vii) The condition of water level will monitor by authorized person via Graphical User Interface (GUI) at control room. viii) The system will operate 24 hours continuously.
Start

operating system in PIC16F877A the programming code has been writing by using the MPLAB software. B. Software Applications The complete setup comprises of microcontroller components, water level sensors and GUI display applications. The GUI display application is built using Visual Basic 6.0 (VB6.0) software which is as a medium to give a pathway between water level sensors and GSM modem to send an alert via SMS. The GUI display is user friendly which shows the monitoring level under normal condition, level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4 and level 5. Level 5 shows the sensor detects water exceeding dangerous level, hence the warning signal will appear and the alert message will send to authorized person. Then, the SMS will be sent automatically to the person on duty for immediate action. There are some of additional features for GUI display which can generate data for downtime review. The data information comprises the date, time of each level detecting and level of water will be stored in database.

Sensor Active

Display on VB 6.0 Interface

Current Stage Level
Ye s

No

Level 1 Level 2

No

Ye s

No

Level 3

Ye s

(a)
Ye s

Normal Condition

No

Level 4
No

Level 5

Ye s

SMS alert

Fig. 4. Flowchart of water level indicator

A. Hardware Components The hardware components is developed using microcontroller PIC16F877A, reset button, connection with cable MAX232, water level sensors and LED indicators as shown in Figure 5. Proteus V 1.1 and MPLAB V8.83 are used to design the schematic diagram and doing microprocessor simulation before printing on the printed circuit board (PCB). From Figure 6, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6 show that the output of LED display indicates the water level condition. For the

(b)

Level 1

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2012 1st International Conference on Future Trends in Computing and Communication Technologies

(c)

Level 2

(e)

Level 4

(d)

Level 3 Fig. 5. GUI display for every water level indicator

(f)

Level 5

Fig. 6. Circuit Diagram of Hardware Components

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2012 1st International Conference on Future Trends in Computing and Communication Technologies

IV.

CONCLUSION

The water level indicator was successfully designed and can be implemented to monitor the water level condition continuously. The system is designed as user friendly software which provides the details information, to collect data and send related information to the authorized personnel for immediate action to make sure the surveillance area under controlled. Furthermore, the system can overcome some problems facing in industries such as the delay in the delivery of information to the officer. Besides that, this system also can reduce the downtime error in big industries by using the wireless system for communication. ACKNOWLEDGMENT The authors would like to thank Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) for providing the technical and financial support in this research. The authors also want to express the appreciation to all School of Electrical Systems Engineering staffs for helping throughout the research project. Special thanks to the family members for the constant encouragement, support and blessings. Thank you. REFERENCES
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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

M. S. Baharum, R. A. Awang and N. H. Baba, Flood Monitoring System (MyFMS), in IEEE Int. Conf. System Engineering and Technology, 2011, pp. 204208. Zainah Md. Zain and M.N.M.Khalid, Development of Flood Detector System Using MC68HC11 Microcontroller, in 5th Stud. Conf. on Research and Development , 2007, pp. 15. Sakol Udomsiri and Masahiro Iwahashi, Design of Filter for Water Level Detection, World Science, Engineering and Technology, 2008. Chen Peijiang and Jiang Xuehua, Design and Implemention of Remote Monitoring System Based on GSM, IEEE Workshop and Computational Intelligence and Industrial Application, 2008. J. Vargas-Cliza, V. Lpez-Mejaa, J.Potenciano-Preza, G. Posada Venegasb V.M. Moo-Yamc, Measuring Water Level with the Pressure Sensor and Microcontroller Pic16F877A, 1st International Congress on Instrumentation and Applied Sciences, 2010. Raphel M. Asuncion, Ryan D. Prodigalidad, Danuel V.Ramirez, Luisito R. Tomelden Jr, Analene Montesines Nagayo, An Automated Microcontroller- Based Cocktail Mixer and Dispenser, DLSU Engineering e-Journal, vol.1 no.1 March 2007. Kavita Jindal, Kavita Singh, Hardware And Software Based Water Level Controller System Using Microcontroller, International Journal of Science Technology & Management, vol.2 issue 2, April 2011.

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