Proposed Framework and Features of SeaCure: An IoT-Based GPS Monitoring and Emergency Alert System Using LoRa Technology for Small-Scale Fisherfolk

Small-scale fisherfolk face high occupational risk from storms, engine failure, and medical emergencies, yet most work offshore without communication devices or any means of being tracked. Existing vessel monitoring systems are designed for commercial fleets and depend on cellular coverage, satellite subscriptions, or costly hardware, which places them out of reach of community-level fishing organizations. This study presents SeaCure, a low-cost, web-based Internet of Things (IoT) GPS monitoring and emergency alert system that uses LoRa technology to transmit boat positions and distress signals beyond cellular coverage. The system was developed for the Abagatanen Western Fishermen Association (AWFA) in Agno, Pangasinan, Philippines, using a descriptive developmental research design and an Agile prototype-based process. Requirements were drawn from interviews with the association president and members and from observation of fishing operations. The boat unit combines a Heltec LoRa 32 V3 microcontroller, a GT-U7 GPS module, an OLED display, separate SOS and medical-emergency toggle switches, a buzzer, and a rechargeable battery. A shore-based receiver forwards the data to a web dashboard that provides live fleet tracking, color-coded alerts, geofenced safe zones, device management, and family access control. The estimated cost of a boat unit is ₱1,500 to ₱2,700, and a gateway costs ₱4,000 to ₱15,000, with no subscription fees. Acceptability will be evaluated with the ISO/IEC 25010 quality model through Likert-scale questionnaires administered to fisherfolk, their families, and IT experts, and analyzed using the weighted mean. This paper reports the problem analysis, system architecture, hardware and software design, and interface prototype of SeaCure. The design indicates that long-range, subscription-free LoRa communication can address the monitoring and emergency-response gaps of small-scale fishing communities. Field-testing and evaluation results will determine the system's readiness for wider deployment.

IoT GPS Tracking, LoRa, Emergency Alert System, Small-scale fisherfolk, ISO/IEC 25010.

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