or what do faculty members do when they are not in the classroom…
TRANSCRIPT
Or what do faculty members do when they are not in the classroom….
What is a Wireless Sensor Network?
Production areasIrrigation Controller
Sensors Valves
WirelessCommunicationNetwork
Local Computer
Grower Input
IrrigationScheduler
FarmZoningModule
Crop Response Model
Crop Database
Decision Support System
Remote Computeror Smartphone
What is a Wireless Sensor Network?
• Hardware • Sensors• Nodes• Valves
• Software• Data visualization• Decision making
nR5
• Water savings
• Disease management
• Plant growth
• Height control
• Statham, GA
• Perennial Grower• Small container size
• Quick production cycles
• Tremendous diversity of crops
• Information-addict
nR5 node at Evergreen
Water Use StudyA problem crop… 2010-11
Results:• Water Savings: None
•(0.5% difference, July 28 - Dec 7, 2011)
• Crop health: Excellent•Sold 15% more plants than expected
• Finish time: Spring instead of Fall 2011
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Num
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Forecast sales
Crop Sales
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Forecast salesActual sales
Crop Sales
23,400 plants
New Crop - 2012
Ready Sept. 2012
4 month production
cycle
Is it real?
12
Profitability of Wireless Sensor Networks
Potential benefits found include:
• Water/energy/labor savings
• Reduced losses
• Reduced management time
• Accelerated production time
Analysis by Erik Lichtenberg, Univ. of Maryland
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of p
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Forecast salesActual sales
Crop Sales
23,400 plants
New Crop - 2012
No Sensors
Sensor-Based
Irrigation
Annualized Revenue
$66,297.36 $
145,505.64
Annualized Production Costs
$30,539.11 $50,039.93
Annualized Sensor System Cost $ 0.00 $3,755.24
Annualized Profit
$35,758.24 $91,710.47 Annualized Profit per Square Foot $1.79 $ 4.59
Percent Change from Base Case +156%
The system payback was less than one month!
No Sensors
Sensor-Based
Irrigation
Fertilizer rates 3,000 lbs/acre $1,500 lbs/acre
Bags of CRF/year/acre 60 30
Cost per bag $80 $80
Annual fertilizer costs $4,800/acre $2,400/acre
•Production of poinsettias; intensive use of growth regulators (PGR)
•Potential of controlled drought to control height
Days after pinching
0 20 40 60 80
Hei
ght (
cm)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
Days after pinching
0 20 40 60 80
Hei
ght (
cm)
15
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25
30
35
40
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55Control
Days after pinching
0 20 40 60 80
Hei
ght (
cm)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
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55Control Drench Spray
Days after pinching
0 20 40 60 80
Hei
ght (
cm)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
55Control Drench Spray Water deficit
35.6 cm 39.4 cm 43.2 cm control
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