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Final report: 11666424_A4

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An IoT Architecture to Enhance Agricultural Yield and Efficiency

This report proposes an IoT ready solution to the present-day issues facing Australian agriculture.  A review of current literature (2016-2019) is undertaken to advise the technological opportunities that exist within current solutions to support this architecture.  Based on this research, an IoT based solution which includes a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), field automation and a user interface is proposed. The ability to notify farmers of any changes to the WSN variables and control various systems is included.  Data from the WSN is stored in a database for processing and can be queried via an internet user interface and smartphone application. Future research includes the implementation and testing of security protocols, along with real-world trials to test the viability of the system.  The IoT architecture proposed would be well suited to assist Australian farmers in automating their systems, improving efficiency and yield.

Ayaz, M., Ammad-Uddin, M., Sharif, Z., Mansour, A., & Aggoune, E. (2019). Internet-of-Things (IoT)-Based Smart Agriculture: Toward Making the Fields Talk. IEEE Access, 7, 129551-129583. Retrieved from http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=8784034&isnumber=8600701

In this article Ayaz, Ammad-Uddin, Sharif, Mansour & Aggoune highlight the potential of a range of technologies that could be incorporated into an IoT based agricultural system.  The authors analyse an array of wireless sensors and the expected challenges of integrating these technologies with traditional farming processes.  Their research focuses on assessing wireless sensors, IoT tractors, harvesting robots, communication protocols, smartphones, cloud computing, UAV’s, food safety and food transportation and their potential application into current agricultural systems such as soil sampling, irrigation, fertiliser, crop disease, pest management, yield monitoring, forecasting and harvesting. The article is very useful to my research topic, as Ayaz et al. have concisely analysed the majority of the sensors I am considering to use in my solution.  The main limitation of the article is that it does not present an agricultural solution but rather reviews technology that could be used in a solution thus the authors need to research the use of the technologies they analysed in a real-world system to test their limitations as a complete integrated architecture.  This article will be useful in my research for supplementary information about wireless sensors.

www.ganttproject.biz

I found this tool useful to create my Gantt Chart for the Project Plan.

I would prefer it if I was able to change the numbering of the weeks to reflect the 12 weeks for my project.  In addition, the subheadings in the chart are not clearly represented if you look at the timeline.  Other than these minor issues, I am happy with the chart as a whole.

As a future update to my Gantt Chart I will add subheadings for the WRITING RESEARCH REPORT section.  These will be added after I complete the Project Proposal so that I am better informed on the report structure and headings etc.

 

Excellent resources available here and as CSU students we are able to download the research papers in PDF format if needed.

https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/Xplore/home.jsp

Keyword searches:

iot farming, iot agriculture, smart farming, smart agriculture, innovative agriculture

 

 

Project Title: The Application of IoT to Enhance Agriculture

Abstract: 

a. Project Problem Domain: We are soon to face a global food crisis due to a number of reasons including climate change, lack of farming personnel and an exponential growth in world population. The ability to improve agricultural production and efficiency would help to alleviate and prevent this crisis.  The key research question for this paper is what current IoT technologies are available to enhance agricultural outcomes.

b. Background/Context/Description: This project is of personal interest to me as I have a keen interest in IoT, electronics and microcontrollers and I believe that these technologies can be used, not only in agriculture but also in all areas of our society to improve and maintain our way of life.

c. Project Aim/Objectives: The aim of the project is to provide an IoT solution that will improve agricultural production and efficiency. The main factors hindering agriculture will be identified.  A review of various current literature will be undertaken to inform the technological opportunities that exist within current solutions and an IoT based solution for enhancing agriculture will be presented.

d. Deliverables/Outcomes: The outcomes of this paper are:

• to research factors hindering agriculture production and efficiency
• to review current solutions and research on the application of IoT in agriculture
• to provide an IoT based application to enhance agriculture production and efficiency

e. Resources: The main research papers and suggested solutions I have found are located on the IEEE Xplore digital library.  I have also located several textbooks and other papers as listed in my bibliography.