Salta, Argentina / Applied engineering

Remote monitoring.
Local engineering.

Water, air, noise and weather monitoring for mining and field operations in the Puna. Development and support from Salta, with sensors and connectivity selected for each site. We start with a technical assessment and a custom prototype.

Concept render of a solar station with sensors, antenna and enclosure communicating with a field camp in a Puna landscape.
Concept visualization and simulated data. During an outage, the station stores records and forwards them when the link recovers. This is not an actual installation.
Design + installation + maintenanceSalta / Jujuy / CatamarcaIn-house electronics · Open data formats
Data continuity

Distance should not leave you without data.

Altitude, available power and connectivity shape every measurement. We design around these conditions, with local storage to retain records when the link goes down.

In-house development. Support from Salta. Data you can access and export.

What happens when the link goes down
Without local storage
ConnectedData lostConnected
Records are not retained during the outage.
With on-station backup
ConnectedLocal backupConnected
Stored records are forwarded when the link recovers.
Conceptual comparison. Backup capacity is specified and tested for each project.
How it works

From sensor to dashboard, independent of the power grid

Sensors

Water, dust, noise and weather at the measurement point.

In-house node

In-house electronics and firmware. Solar power and battery storage.

Connectivity

LoRa, cellular or satellite, depending on site conditions.

Dashboard and alerts

Real-time data, configurable thresholds and reports.

The station

One mast to measure, store and transmit

Concept render of a modular station: weather sensors, solar panel, antenna, an open enclosure with circuit board and battery, and a wired probe.
Concept render · Sensors, solar power and modular electronics. An illustration, not a manufactured product or an actual installation.
  • Self-poweredSolar panel and battery sized for high-altitude conditions.
  • ModularSensors can be added or removed without redesigning the system.
  • Local data backupStorage sized to retain records during link outages.
  • Locally serviceableIn-house design and firmware, with maintenance and adjustments from Salta.
Services for field operations

Measure. Understand. Decide.

Concept render of three solar sensor nodes transmitting by radio to a gateway at a remote site.
Concept render · Monitoring network

Self-powered environmental monitoring

Site-specific solar stations that measure and transmit data to a dashboard with alerts. We start with a custom prototype and a single-point trial.

  • Water, particulate matter, noise and weather
  • LoRa, cellular or satellite connectivity
  • Local backup storage
Concept render of a tripod-mounted sound level meter with windscreen, an acoustic calibrator and an instrument case.
Concept render · Acoustic measurement

Measurements and technical reports

Environmental noise and acoustics, grounding and power quality. The scope, applicable criteria and documentation are defined for each assignment.

  • Environmental noise and acoustics
  • IRAM / IEC criteria
  • Technical report with measurement traceability
Concept render of a quadcopter above a gravel stockpile, with a partial mesh representing a photogrammetric model.
Concept render · Drone survey

Drone surveys

Topographic surveys, stockpile volumes and infrastructure inspections.

  • UAV pilot with 14 years of experience
  • ANAC-authorized pilot
  • Orthomosaics and 3D models
Connectivity

Connectivity selected for the site

Without cellular coverage

LoRa

Long-range, low-power radio to a dedicated gateway. The gateway's internet connection is selected for the site.

With cellular coverage

Cellular 4G / LTE

Where coverage is available, it offers a simple, direct connection to the cloud.

Remote locations

Satellite

An option where other networks are unavailable, subject to service availability, power requirements and operating costs.

The dashboard

Clear data and timely alerts

Alerts

  • PM10 above thresholdEmail and WhatsApp notification · example
  • Battery below 30%Maintenance visit scheduled · example
  • Link restoredStored records synchronized · example

Download records in open formats (CSV) and receive periodic reports for your documentation.

The Apacheta Sistemas approach

As important as measurement:
keeping the system running.

01 / LOCAL SUPPORT

Support from Salta

A technical contact who understands the design and can plan maintenance and site visits.

02 / SITE-SPECIFIC DESIGN

The site shapes the system

Sensors, power and connectivity are sized for the measured variable, terrain and sampling interval.

03 / TRACEABILITY

Your data, accessible

Local backup, access to records and open-format exports so you can work with your information.

How we work

From first conversation to data, step by step

Site assessment

We establish what needs measuring, where and to which requirements.

Assessment and proposal

Connectivity, power and sensor options for your site, with a written scope, timeline and cost.

Prototype and trial

A single measurement point installed and tested in real conditions, against agreed acceptance criteria.

Continuous monitoring

If the trial meets the criteria, the system can expand to include a dashboard, alerts and maintenance within the agreed scope.

Start with one point. First, verify performance on site. Ongoing service, maintenance and monthly costs are agreed based on the results and project scope.
Development / Technical work

The engineering behind the approach.

Client work, open-source projects and prototypes in development.

Client projectSTM32Audio

Audio sensing for smart lighting

I developed a substantial part of the firmware for an STM32 audio-sensing pipeline and built hardware test prototypes during a two-month project for an overseas company.

PublishedSTM32H743Open source

Real-time audio beamforming

An STM32H743 audio pipeline with 32 output and 2 input channels using circular DMA. Acoustic signal processing on a microcontroller.

View on GitHub →

In developmentLoRa AU915ESP32-S3

LoRa telemetry node

A platform based on ESP32-S3 and an SX1262 radio for Argentina's AU915 band: point-to-point LoRa and LoRaWAN, a LoRa-to-MQTT bridge, low-power operation (around 20 µA in standby according to the manufacturer; independent measurement pending) and a custom monitoring dashboard.

PublishedESP32Open source

Domosonica

An ESP32-based sound dome. An open-source project exploring audio systems and embedded control.

View on GitHub →

Technical insights

Knowledge worth sharing.

ConnectivityDesign guide

Choosing connectivity for remote monitoring in the Puna

LoRa, cellular or satellite: range calculations, line of sight, Fresnel clearance and high-altitude solar power, with the calculations explained.

Read the article →

AcousticsEnvironmental noise

Measuring environmental noise in the Puna

Occupational and environmental noise, background correction, wind-affected measurements and conditions at 4,000 meters. With the equations explained.

Read the article →

Fernando Bergami in the field with the Andes in the background
The person behind the work

A person behind the work.
Engineering in every detail.

Fernando Bergami · Sound Engineer, UNTREF

I am a Sound Engineer (UNTREF). Since 2012, I have worked with embedded systems and drones: STM32 and ESP32 hardware and firmware, real-time audio processing and long-range telemetry. I am a certified UAV pilot, have training in IRAM/IEC electrical certification, and have developed firmware and hardware prototypes for an overseas client. Based in Salta, I focus on measurement challenges in demanding locations.

STM32ESP32PCB design (KiCad)LoRaAudio and acousticsBeamformingUAV
Before we start

Questions from the field.

Every site has its own conditions. These are the first questions we discuss.

What does Apacheta Sistemas do, and where does it work?

Apacheta Sistemas develops remote environmental monitoring solutions, technical measurements and drone surveys. Based in Salta, it serves operations in Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca, focusing on mining and remote Puna locations.

Can a site be monitored without grid power or cellular coverage?

A station can be designed with solar power, a battery and local storage. Connectivity may use LoRa to a gateway or a satellite connection, depending on the terrain, available power and technical feasibility. Each site requires an assessment first.

Which variables can be measured?

The configuration may include water level and quality parameters, particulate matter, noise and weather. Sensors, ranges, calibration and sampling intervals are selected for the project's objectives and requirements.

What happens if connectivity is lost?

The design includes local storage to retain records and synchronize them when connectivity returns. Backup capacity and power autonomy are sized for each installation.

Does remote monitoring replace a certified measurement?

Continuous monitoring and a measurement with a technical report may have different scopes. Requirements, instrumentation and applicable professional authorizations are reviewed before quoting to define the appropriate deliverables.

How does a project get started?

Start by sharing the location, variables and objectives. Following the assessment, we propose a configuration, installation scope and monitoring and maintenance plan. One-off measurements and surveys can also be discussed.

Contact

Your next project
starts with a conversation.

Tell us where your operation is, what you need to measure and which challenge you want to solve. We will arrange a conversation to define the scope and next step.

Salta, Argentina · Serving Salta, Jujuy and Catamarca