Smart Irrigation System for Agriculture with Android Based Application

Andres, Mervin V.
Cacao, Benedict D.
Lamban, Henry King B.
Landagan, Jazzlyn Mae C.

Technological Institute of the Philippines

Quezon City

September 2017
 CHAPTER 1: PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Project

Within the growing agriculture industry, it is important to monitor and maintain the quality of crops and soil
because it plays an important role in terms of farming. Starting an irrigation cycle too early and/or running an
irrigation cycle too long is considered over watering. At the very least this practice wastes water and money.
However, overwatering can cause crop damage if done on a prolonged basis. Likewise, starting an irrigation
cycle too late or not running the system for a long enough period of time is considered under watering and
can cause reduced yields and poor crop quality which can affect price. Looking at these problems in depth
is the key to minimizing their financial and practical impact on crops.

The two most common methods for dealing with these problems are ET based control systems and soil
moisture based control systems. Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined process through which soil
moisture is lost directly to the atmosphere through evaporation and plants taking water out of the soil and
transpiring it to the atmosphere. ET is typically a calculated value that takes into account factors such as
recent rainfall, relative humidity, solar radiation, and a crop coefficient that accounts for the plant size and
stage of growth. The calculated ET will give the grower an estimate as to how much water the soil is losing
due to ET. Once he knows how much soil moisture he is losing he can determine how long he needs to
irrigation to replace the lost soil moisture.

Soil moisture based control systems use soil moisture sensors to measure the actual soil moisture. This
method is typically more accurate the ET calculations because it is actually measuring the moisture level in
the soil instead of calculating what should be there. Soil moisture control systems tell the grower when to
begin an irrigation cycle and also tell him when the soil moisture level reaches field capacity.

Occasionally ET based control systems are used with some type of soil moisture sensor to provide some
feedback as to the accuracy of the ET calculations.

Therefore, the designers decided to develop a system that determine how much amount of water to be given
to the crops depending on the climate and display different parameters in a mobile android application. These
mechanisms achieve the efficiency needed in the fields of agriculture in terms of irrigation.
General Objectives:
The main objective of this project is to develop a system that will determine how much amount of water to
give to crops based on the weather forecast.

Specific Objectives:
To design a device with applied machine learning and uses a network of sensors that collects
environmental and soil conditions
To develop an android application to display different parameters
To test and evaluate the accuracy and functionality of the prototype.

The Client

The figure shows the Total Available Market (TAM) that represents the total market demand for the products
or services, while Serviceable Available Market (SAM) is a portion of TAM that will be targeted by the
company within geographical reach. The Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) is a part of SAM that the
designer can capture by the developed device.

Total Available Market

119 P. Ps

90 P. Ps
Servable Available Market
32PPs
Share of Market

Project Scope and Limitation

The project focused on a monitoring device that can monitor the quality of soil and crops for agricultures. The
prototype is a device that water the crops automatically based on the climate and it is capable of determining
the soil humidity, temperature, rainfall, and even weather forecast specifically La Nina and El Nino through
series of sensors. It also has an android application that notifies the users about the condition of the crops.

The design project covers the study of irrigation systems as prescribed by Department of Agriculture. The
designers researched appropriate technology and standards to be used for the project in comparison with
the existing system. However, the limitations of the device are only applied specifically in soil and crops
quality parameters, the climate involve and the transmission range in terms of meters in Bluetooth
connectivity.

Engineering Design Process

The engineering design process is a series of steps that the designer used to provide a solution on the given
problem. It sets as a backbone guideline to increased involvement of all the designers in the project lifecycle.
The designers used Engineering design process as a way to solve problems.

Figure 1.2 Engineering Design Process

1. ASK: Identify the need & constraints

The designers managed to have a discussion about the potential project that can help and contribute to our
society. Every meeting, we come up to a discussion about the categories that we want to implement.
Categories in terms of safety precautions, medical, PPEs, aquaculture, agriculture, robotics, renewal energy,
etc. After some elaboration and brainstorming, we decided to make a proposal. First, we seek advised from
faculty members of the computer engineering for our chosen proposals. Some advisers share information
and ideas about on how to work on our proposed projects. They suggested some ideas that will help us in
our project. After a few project proposals to some advisers even the department chair, we come up to our
final proposal about Smart Irrigation System for Agriculture with Android Based Application.

2. Research the problem

The designers recognized the possible factors on the fallen growth production of the agriculture. In defining
the current problems and existing solutions. To deal with the problems, they collected research, gathered
statistical studies, went to the government agencies concerning for agriculture, such as Department of
Agriculture (DA)and National Agricultural and Fishery Council (NAFC). Based on the gathered information
collected, the common problems stated are based on the climate change specifically La Nina and El Nino.
3. IMAGINE: Develop possible solutions

The designers have conducted brainstorming to visualized the possible solutions that would solve the
problems. They considered the standards and constraints that would help in choosing the best solution. Each
member of the designers proposed feasible solutions and as a result, the designers arrived with three
different designs that could make ideas into reality. The three possible designs were composed of different
sensors that would measure the quality of the soil and crops. It also uses Android application for displaying
the values of each parameter. The said designs considered the constraints given by designers such as
economic, functionality, and performance to identify the best solution.

4. PLAN: Select a promising solution.

The designers selected the most feasible solutions in the ideas, considering the different constraints such as
cost, sensors and range. In addition, they used trade-offs and different combinations used for sensitivity
analysis in choosing the best solution. They planned to develop an android based application and a wireless
monitoring device.

5. CREATE: Build a prototype

The designers start to build a prototype to turn the ideas into a reality. They planned about the materials to
be used in the development, the size of the prototype, and considered the measurable range of each sensor.
After deciding the materials, they designed a device and developed an android application that displays the
monitored quality of soil and crops for agriculture.

6. Test and evaluate the prototype

The designers conducted the testing procedure to evaluate the reliability, functionality, and efficiency of the
device. They concluded the testing of the quality of soil and crops were accurate in accordance with the
standards, constraints used by them and a proof of testing was awarded to them because the device meets
the standard accuracy level set by the client.

7. IMPROVE: Redesign as needed

The last step in engineering design process where the designers identified the needed improvement of the
prototype based on the testing and evaluation conducted by the designers. They improved the android
application and add more features.
 CHAPTER 2: DESIGN INPUTS

Design Constraints

A design constraint refers to a limitation on the requirements and operation conditions under which the design
is expected to operate. Design constraints are restrictions on a design, it may affect the process and usage.
Among the possible constraints, the designers used Economic, Functionality and Performance:

Economic (Cost)
The designers considered the cost as the major constraint since the total cost of the prototype will
based on materials and its construction cost. The total costs of all components are considered in
order to make the device reasonably priced.

Functionality (Range)
The designers considered functionality as a constraint in terms of how broad the range of each
sensor based on the three designs and it may result in the limitations of each designs. The
functionality of a sensor is built to work within the maximum and minimum value range over which a
sensor works well.

Performance(Efficiency)
The designers considered performance as a constraint in terms of how the device works with its
corresponding algorithms used in each design. Machine learning is applied for the factual result that
the three designs must have.

The designers considered the economic, functionality and the performance as the foundation of the design.
The values were based on the studies that evaluated the overall cost, range and efficiency on research
involving technology used in the device. Although all the designs differ in each other, these studies are unique
in each other and have different approach in solving the problem, therefore the designers preferred the
flexibility in monitoring the conditions of the soil and crops.

Design Standards

The design of this project adapts the following studies, codes and standards
:
1. Python Coding Guidelines and Standards
According to (Python, 2001-2017) states that Python uses indentation to give you a visual
indication of the structure of your code. It is important that the indentions in the code using
python are synchronized. Additionally, the team have a communicating interpreter that
provides a default illustration for many objects and data structures. Consistency of style and
using the interpreters representation for objects are used to make it at ease to parse and
absorb the definition of the code. The designers may use this standard in developing each
design for the proper coding of the Python to have a standard in coding and have a clear
instruction that is more understandable by the readers and programmers.
 2. Bluetooth Standard as IEEE 802.15.1
The IEEE standardized Bluetooth as IEEE 802.15.1, but no longer maintains the standard.
The Bluetooth SIG oversees development of the specification, manages the qualification
program, and protects the trademarks.[7] A manufacturer must meet Bluetooth SIG
standards to market it as a Bluetooth device.[8] A network of patents apply to the technology,
which are licensed to individual qualifying devices.

Hardware Requirements

While emerging this project, the team considered the components that can be used to create physically the
device. Furthermore, the designers develop the skills and knowledge on materials required for the
improvement of the prototype. These components discussed below:

Hardware Knowledge

The developers applied the learnings from previous courses as listed below:

Microprocessor System / Embedded Systems

The knowledge about microprocessor systems and embedded systems is vital for the design
of the system. Our monitoring system is composed of a microcontroller unit that acts as the
main processor of the system. Effective programming and reliable implementation of the
microcontroller unit is a requirement for the development of the stress management system.

Hardware Components

Hardware components used for the development of the project

Raspberry Pi 3
The Raspberry Pi is an open hardware which runs many of the main components of the
boardCPU, graphics, memory, the USB controller, etc. Many of the projects made with a
Raspberry Pi are open and well-documented as well and are things you can build and modify
yourself.
Power Bank
A Power Bank you can charge by connecting it to a power outlet. Most Power Banks use
USB powered. This means that a power bank, like a smartphone, iPad or GPS system is
charging by connecting it to a USB charger (which comes standard with most smartphones
and tablets) or those with an often USB cable to connect to a computer.

Arduino
It is an open source computer hardware and software company, project, and user community
that designs and manufactures single-board microcontrollers.
 Led
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a two-lead semiconductor light source.
Stevens HydraProbe

HydraProbe is a rugged soil sensor with patented technology that provides continual,
consistent accuracy measuring a number of parameters including the three most significant
soil parameters simultaneously moisture, salinity and temperature.

HydraProbe Field Portable

Take soil measurements anywhere, without the effort or expense of setting up a permanent
soil monitoring system. Your smartphone communicates wirelessly with the HydraProbe
using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network created by the HydraProbe Field Portable.

Simply insert the probe into the soil, and tap on the Sample button in the app. The location
of each measurement is recorded along with the soil measurement data. All data can be
saved and emailed as a .CSV for analysis in Excel.

Hydra Data Reader

The Stevens Hydra Data Reader acquires, displays, and logs data directly from the
analog HydraProbe Sensor. The Hydra Data Reader converts raw HydraProbe voltages
directly into soil moisture, salinity, and temperature readings without requiring any further
processing or calibration. Data can then be logged, stored and downloaded to a PC for
analysis, or the unit may be put in direct read only mode.

Software Requirements

The software in this project uses the image processing program technologies and machine learning algorithm.
The ability and competence of the designers in used in this project was based on their previous learning from
the subject Digital Signal Processing as well as those enlisted underneath:

Software Knowledge

The developers applied the learnings from the previous courses taken as listed below:

Digital Signal Processing

Digital Signal Processing take real-world signals like voice, audio, video, temperature,
pressure or position that have been digitized and then mathematically manipulate them.
Signals need to be processed so that the information that they contain can be displayed,
analyzed or converted to another type of signal that may be of use.
 Software Engineering
Software engineering is a step by step procedure that will guide student to enhance or build
a software. It is the systematic application of scientific and innovative information,
techniques, and experiences to the design, usage, testing, and documentation of software.

System Analysis and Design

System analysis and design is an interdisciplinary portion of computer science that involves
both system designs. It adapts the idea of system development life cycle or SDLC which
includes the whole procedure of planning, building, deploying, updating, and maintaining an
information system.

System Administration
System Administration is a subject that manage network through windows or Unix operating
system. It also deals on how to handle threats on a network. One of the most versatile
programming language being used in System Administration is Python. Python is a high-
level, general-purpose, dynamic programming language. It contains code clarity and its
syntax structure permits the programmers to express ideas in a lesser lines of code. The
designers used this language to develop the object and text recognition application of the
prototype. This also is used to communicate the hardware to open the camera and control
buttons and switches.

Software Components:
The programming tools listed below is used for the development of the program:

Python
The programming languages used in image processing.

OpenCV
The library of programming functions mainly aimed at real-time computer vision.

C++ Language
The general-purpose programming language. It has imperative, object
oriented and generic programming features, while also providing facilities for low-
level memory manipulation.

Integrated Development Environment for Microcontroller Program

The IDE used in the development of the program for the microcontroller is the Arduino
Sketch.