AgrioTec

CASE STUDY: BUILD AN EXPERT SYSTEM FOR GREENHOUSE PRODUCTION MANAGEMEN

OVERVIEW


AgrioTec is a precision technology system based in Palestine. We provide an effective solution for safe agricultural production free of chemicals focusing on small-holder farmers. AgrioTec tackles the random consumption issue of agricultural resources by providing customized guidance and directions to farmers. AgrioTec Technology system adopts machine learning methods that suppor

 

LOCATION 

Globally 

 

INDUSTRY
Agriculture, Food Security

 

SITUATION


Food security is a global concern facing nowadays many challenges such as climate change, population growth, economic development, and the change in diet which consequently are putting pressure on resource availability (FAO 2020a). Climate change resulting in different weather patterns can threaten food production as both plant productivity are affected, crop yields are reduced, infectious diseases and pests are prevailing, frequent occurrence of environmental contaminants and chemical residues are observed along the food chain hampering food safety and security (FAO 2020b). As stated by the United Nations, the world’s population is expected to increase to 9.7 billion in 2050 (United Nations Homepage 2020a) with a subsequent required increase of 60% in food production by then (FAO 2020a). Therefore, it is evident that traditional agricultural systems are insufficient to meet the increasing food demand. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a transition to sustainable and precision agriculture taking advantage of the technological progress to increase crop productivity while preserving the existing resources. (Higher yields and Improving product quality).
Greenhouses are increasingly important in the food supply of countries, because they can provide abundant fresh products stably and sustainably year round and can have several relevant effects on the economy, society, and on agro-ecosystems. The closed environment of a greenhouse has its own unique requirements, compared with outdoor production. Pests and diseases, and extremes of heat and humidity, have to be controlled, and fertigation is necessary to provide water and nutrients. Significant inputs of heat and light may be required, particularly with winter production of warm-weather vegetables. So greenhouse cost-effectiveness can not be ignored.
However, greenhouse production process is much more complicated, compared with outdoor production. Precision management is badly needed under such controlled space.
In a word, faced with so huge amount of knowledge and techniques greenhouse engineering and its production management are challengeable, which leads to the emerging of expert system for greenhouse production management, a field that is undergoing increasing technological and sustainable improvement and application.

WHAT WE DID
 

We built a SMART and EXPERT system of agricultural greenhouses management and full control through a portal for farmers and agricultural engineers. Also, the system predicts diseases and pests that may affect the greenhouse, as the system depends on AI in analyzing the Big Data that comes from the sensors in the greenhouse and then expects diseases and pests based on the standards of pre -knowledge of the system. Also, on its own, the system corrects these standards, as the system analyzes the data that accompanied the disease or the pest, and accordingly it corrects its pre -knowledge standards so that its predictions are more accurate in the coming times.
According to measuring requirement, sensors were put on proper locations and connected with the data collection modules. And the data collection modules were connected with a computer in which monitoring and control software had been installed.
According to the analysis of greenhouse and its production process, the expert system is composed of four subsystems, which are cultivation techniques, consultation of pest/disease and nutrient deficiency, diagnosis of pest/disease and nutrient deficiency, and environment control decision. Under each subsystem, there are still several subsystems.
The database of the software is called by the model base and environment control system, and then control decision can be made based on it.

SERVICES PROVIDED


UI/UX design, portal development, Custom software development
 

IMPACT


The application of expert system on greenhouse production management has been emphasized by many countries, especially on greenhouse cultivation and environment control.
 

FEATURES


GloballyBy building a solution that could accurately greenhouse environment control. The system was designed to support the transition to sustainable precision agriculture meeting the world’s food security and sustainability goals. It’s important that users understand the current status of greenhouse technology, aiming to introducing new technologies and benefiting from the advances in monitoring techniques, artificial intelligence and software infrastructure in the agricultural sector.


The app receives climatic data from kinds of sensors, carries out logical operation and judgement with expert system, and then makes control decisions to adjust greenhouse environment. Meanwhile, it can help growers to analyze history dada and mine good management strategies.
In fact, although the initial reason for using greenhouses was to grow crops in controlled environments, today the integration of smart systems can reduce reliance on labor and increase profitability while ensuring efficiency and sustainability. In this context, enormous progress has been made in the automation of greenhouses, mainly based on environmental sensors that play a key role in the programmed operation. Indeed, smart greenhouse solutions incorporating advanced sensor technologies have become widely used for crop growth environment monitoring. 
The different sensors and machines can communicate with each other by exchanging data, the so-called Cyber-Physical Production Systems (CPPS). These systems can fit into the existing farm decision-making tools and particular in the production processes as the database and information they offer is precise and constantly updated thus creating transparency in multifactorial decisions.
The app uses strict policy procedures and features to prevent random access.

 

The app uses strict policy procedures and features to prevent random access.

 

  • Environment information collection system consists of sensors, data collection module and monitoring software
  • Each of the sensors is connected with data collection modules to obtain environment parameters inside and outside greenhouses


                                     
The operation of the expert system is simple and easy through menu-driven mode. Given functions include:

 

  • Consultation of basic cultivation information, dealing with botanical characteristics, requirements of growth environment and cultivation techniques during each growth stage.
  • Consultation of frequent pest/disease and nutrient deficiency symptom in greenhouses and chemicals for prevention and treatment.
  • Diagnosis and recognition of pest/disease and nutrient deficiency
  • Decision on greenhouse environment control for on/off-line operation mode.

 

The specific functions are listed as follows:

 

  • Real-time monitoring greenhouse environment;
  • Updating the environment information database for expert system
  • Information output and display with text, graph table or printout;
  • Alarming in case of extreme occasions or crop stress