A wireless telecommunications network for real-time monitoring of greenhouse microclimate

Submitted: 3 June 2014
Accepted: 24 July 2014
Published: 2 October 2014
Abstract Views: 2410
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An innovative wireless monitoring system for measuring greenhouse climatic parameters was developed to overcome the problems related to wires cabling such as presence of a dense net of wires hampering the cultivation practices, wires subjected to high temperature and relative humidity, rodents that can damage wires. The system exploits battery-powered environmental sensors, such as air temperature and relative humidity sensors, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation sensors, integrated in the contest of an 802.15.4-based wireless sensors network. Besides, a fruit diameter measurement sensor was integrated into the system. This approach guarantees flexibility, ease of deployment and low power consumption. Data collected from the greenhouse are then sent to a remote server via a general packet radio service link. The proposed solution has been implemented in a real environment. The test of the communication system showed that 0.3% of the sent data packed were lost; the climatic parameters measured with the wireless system were compared with data collected by the wired system showing a mean value of the absolute difference equal to 0.6°C for the value of the greenhouse air temperature. The wireless climate monitoring system showed a good reliability, while the sensor node batteries showed a lifetime of 530 days.

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Vox, G., Losito, P., Valente, F., Consoletti, R., Scarascia-Mugnozza, G., Schettini, E., Marzocca, C. and Corsi, F. (2014) “A wireless telecommunications network for real-time monitoring of greenhouse microclimate”, Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 45(2), pp. 70–79. doi: 10.4081/jae.2014.237.