In the rapidly evolving world of IoT, LoRa has become a go-to technology for low-power, long-range communication, particularly in sectors like agriculture where sensors need to transmit data over vast fields with minimal energy consumption. However, the challenge of transmitting multimedia—images, videos, and audio—over these networks has remained a significant hurdle due to constraints like limited bitrate, payload size, and duty-cycle regulations. A new survey published in *Sensors* sheds light on the current state and future potential of multimedia transmission over LoRa networks, offering valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals alike.
The survey, led by Soumadeep De of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Norfolk State University, reviews existing research on multimedia transmission over LoRa, revealing that most efforts have focused on images, with only a few preliminary studies exploring video or audio. “The majority of current work is image-centric, which is a good starting point, but we need to expand our focus to include video and audio for more comprehensive IoT applications,” De explains. This limitation is particularly relevant for the agriculture sector, where visual and audio data could revolutionize monitoring and decision-making processes.
The survey proposes a structured taxonomy that categorizes various strategies for multimedia transmission over LoRa. These include compression and fragmentation methods, cooperative and multi-hop architectures, MAC and cross-layer optimizations, and hybrid network designs. By analyzing these strategies in the context of IoT applications such as agriculture, surveillance, and environmental monitoring, the survey provides a roadmap for future developments.
One of the key challenges highlighted in the survey is the need to move beyond static images. “While transmitting images is a step forward, the real potential lies in integrating video and audio, which can provide richer data for applications like precision agriculture and remote monitoring,” De notes. This shift could significantly enhance the capabilities of IoT systems in agriculture, enabling more precise and timely interventions based on visual and audio cues.
The survey also emphasizes the importance of energy-efficient delivery and the development of spectrum- and machine learning (ML)-aware protocols. These advancements could pave the way for more scalable and practical multimedia systems over LoRa, ultimately benefiting sectors like agriculture where real-time data is crucial for optimizing operations and improving yields.
As the IoT landscape continues to evolve, the insights from this survey could shape future developments in multimedia transmission over LoRa networks. By addressing the current limitations and exploring new strategies, researchers and industry professionals can work towards creating more robust and versatile IoT systems that meet the demands of modern agriculture and other sectors. The survey not only provides a consolidated reference for IoT researchers but also serves as a roadmap for practical and scalable multimedia systems over LoRa, published in *Sensors* and led by Soumadeep De from Norfolk State University.