Simple for farmers
No complex dashboard is required in the field. The module provides a clear local status using green, orange and red warning signals.
Field salinity sensor
Solar-powered salinity sensing for rice fields.
Amerta One is a field research project developing a robust, autonomous module that monitors salinity stress risk in rice fields, gives farmers a simple local warning and sends selected field data to Tirta Cloud for research and future advisory services.
The challenge
Salinity stress is often discovered too late.
In coastal and low-lying rice-growing areas, salinity can increase through seawater intrusion, tidal flooding, saline irrigation water, land subsidence and changing groundwater conditions. The impact often appears slowly: reduced crop health, lower yield and, in severe cases, land that becomes unsuitable for rice cultivation.
The missing layer is not scientific knowledge. The missing layer is affordable, local and understandable field data. Amerta One is designed to make salinity risk visible at the point where decisions are made: in and around the field.
Design principles
Local first. Research ready.
Autonomous by design
The field module is powered by solar energy and battery storage, making it suitable for remote or infrastructure-poor locations.
Useful without network
The local warning function runs on the device itself. Connectivity adds research value but is not required for the farmer-facing signal.
The field module
A small outdoor station for water salinity monitoring.
The first Amerta One prototype is designed as a compact outdoor field unit. It will be installed near an irrigation inlet, water channel, well, pond or flooded rice field. A connected probe measures water conditions, while the enclosure contains the edge controller, power system, communication module and local warning indicators.
The enclosure concept is built around field realities: humidity, rain, heat, mud, insects, UV exposure and the need for low maintenance.
Solar panel
Amerta One
Edge controller · Power · Communication
EC + temperature probe
System architecture
From field measurement to cloud research.
01
Water sensing
The field probe measures water salinity indicators and temperature in the relevant field water.
02
Edge processing
The module filters measurements, compensates values and determines the local warning state.
03
Local warning
Green, orange or red gives a simple signal that can be understood without technical knowledge.
04
Tirta Cloud
Selected data is transmitted for storage, calibration, research analysis and future advisory services.
Communication
Low-power data from remote fields.
Amerta One is designed for small sensor messages rather than continuous data streaming. The communication layer can use low-power long-range links such as LoRa or LoRaWAN where suitable, with gateway-based or MQTT-style integration into Tirta Cloud.
The communication path supports research, calibration and long-term analysis. The most important farmer-facing function remains local: the warning signal is generated on the device itself.
Field signal
Three colours, one clear message.
Green
Conditions appear stable.
Orange
Salinity risk may be increasing.
Red
High risk: attention may be needed.
Roadmap
From prototype to field research platform.
- Prototype Build and test the first autonomous field module.
- Calibration Validate sensor behaviour, temperature compensation and field stability.
- Pilot deployment Install early modules in real field conditions and collect long-term data.
- Research network Deploy multiple modules connected to Tirta Cloud for regional salinity analysis.
- Future advisory Translate measurements into practical advice for farmers and local stakeholders.
Project vision
Ten Amerta One field modules deployed in Central Java, communicating with Tirta Cloud for research into salinity stress in rice fields and future farmer advisory services.
People behind the project
Built by Qman Nexus, initiated by Pieter Leek.
Founder
Pieter Leek
Amerta One was initiated by Pieter Leek, a technical systems architect and troubleshooter from the Netherlands with a broad background in software development, IT, education, system integration and organisational problem solving.
Pieter works best on problems without a manual: unclear system boundaries, legacy environments, integrations that no longer fit reality and technical situations where architecture, operations and decision-making meet.
With Amerta One, that experience is applied to field sensing: connecting embedded hardware, local decision logic, low-power communication and cloud-based research into one practical system for real agricultural conditions.
Connect with Pieter on LinkedInCompany
Qman Nexus B.V.
Qman Nexus B.V. develops practical technology for complex environments where standard solutions are not enough. The company focuses on system architecture, OT/IT integration, custom middleware, troubleshooting and special technical projects.
Amerta One is a Qman Nexus project: a field module and research platform that brings together sensing, edge processing, resilient communication and cloud data infrastructure.
The goal is not to build technology for its own sake, but to create systems that make hidden problems visible, understandable and actionable.
Visit Qman Nexus B.V.