The Role of the Internet of Things in Natural Resource Management
Keywords:
Internet of Things (IoT), natural resource management, precision agriculture, environmental sustainabilityAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this review study was to explore and analyze the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) in improving the management, efficiency, and sustainability of natural resources through a systematic review of recent scientific research.
Methods and Materials: This qualitative systematic review employed an inductive content analysis approach. Data were collected from scientific sources indexed in Scopus, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Google Scholar between 2015 and 2024. After screening, 12 relevant articles were selected and analyzed using Nvivo 14 software. Data were coded through open, axial, and selective stages, and analysis continued until theoretical saturation was reached.
Findings: The results revealed three main themes regarding the role of IoT in natural resource management: (1) Technological functions, including smart environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, water resource management, and renewable energy optimization; (2) Practical outcomes, such as increased efficiency, environmental sustainability, transparency, and cost reduction; and (3) Developmental challenges and requirements, encompassing infrastructural limitations, legal and security issues, cultural barriers, and the need for standardization.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that IoT serves as an effective tool for transforming natural resource management by enabling data-driven decision-making, risk management, and environmental sustainability. However, realizing its full potential requires comprehensive policymaking, robust technical infrastructure, and specialized human capacity building.
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References
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