ClimateMinder wireless sensor system monitors environmental conditions in farms, greenhouses and warehouses
chrispeng [ad_1]
Norcal Harvesting, a strawberry grower in Oxnard, California, has installed a wireless sensor system to track the condition of its plants in real time. Companies can log into a website to view the data in real time, and the system can automatically trigger actions, such as watering or adjusting the temperature, based on air and soil conditions.
The system was developed by ClimateMinder to help breeders better manage the growth of plants. According to Bulut Ersavas, President of ClimateMinder, the system has been used by more than 200 greenhouses and nurseries in Turkey since the company’s launch in 2007 (the company was first in Turkey). operation) used. In addition, the system is used in a chicken farm, tobacco storage plant and cold storage warehouse in Turkey. Ersavas said the company is now looking into the possibility of applying the system to golf courses, such as tracking how much water is being watered and whether grass is being properly watered.
GreenArch, a California-based agricultural solutions company, installed Norcal Harvesting’s wireless sensor network, said Mike Almasri, company product manager. “Our mission is to break the mold and innovate the application of agricultural technology,” he said, adding that GreenArch’s environmentally sustainable solutions can help, for example, reduce water consumption in areas with scarce water sources, such as California.
ClimateMinder wireless nodes (mounted on poles) measure the condition of the greenhouse
Almasri first used the ClimateMinder protocol in a greenhouse at the University of California, Davis, to test the operation of the nodes and central reading device. “The system is working fine,” he said. So GreenArch installed the system for Norcal Harvesting this month, and plans to install it in several other California greenhouses in the coming months.
Norcal uses electronic conductivity sensors to monitor soil salinity (to assess fertility levels) and to measure soil moisture. The company is initially using the system on two fields, and Almasri says it plans to expand to all fields if successful.
System nodes contain 2.4 GHz active RFID tags compliant with the 802.15.4 ZigBee standard. Each tag transmits its unique ID code and sensor data at a preset rate up to 250 meters (820 feet). The tag signal is picked up by tags in a nearby range and passed on to other tags until it is routed to a central reader. The reader obtains the node’s ID code, sensor data, time and date, and sends it to a ClimateMinder network server via a GPRS cellular connection. End users can enter a username and password to access the website and view real-time condition data about the monitored greenhouse or a field.
The central reader device (including the relay as a power switch) is directly connected to equipment such as sprayers, heaters and refrigeration. If a condition reaches a certain threshold – such as too cold causing frostbite, or too dry – the central device can directly activate the relevant equipment and take the correct action.
Each node is wired to multiple sensors (according to the needs of the end user) that measure air and soil temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide and UV radiation levels, and more. Nodes can be placed on a bench or near plant ground, and sensors wired to nodes can be placed near plant ground or inserted into the ground.
If a value (such as temperature) exceeds a preset threshold, the ClimateMinder server sends an alert and the user continues to receive emails until action is taken.
Many greenhouses currently use wired sensors to monitor air and soil conditions, Almasri says, but this requires hundreds of feet of wire, which is cumbersome and expensive to install. “The biggest advantage of this system is wireless control of the entire environment,” he said. Users can also log in to the website through their mobile phones and view the relevant information of the greenhouse directly on the mobile phone screen.
Users pay different monthly fees depending on the size of their installation. The system is designed to be flexible as different growers in different locations have different requirements such as temperature fluctuations, watering or salinity levels.
In Turkey, this system is used by several greenhouses and nurseries. For example, Has Nursery has used this system to monitor temperature and humidity for the past 6 months. The system includes 5 sensors and a central station. “In the first week, you can’t sleep almost all night because of the constant alarm. The problems were bigger than we thought, and we resolved them quickly after the ClimateMinder system was installed.”
[ad_2]
