Original research paper;

UDC: 634.1/.7:[621.39:004.7
ID: 203796492

Acta Agriculturae Serbica, Vol. XVIII, 36(2013) 179-186
1





Wireless information system for frost detection in
orchards

Duan B. Markovi, Ivan P. Glii



Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kragujevac,
Cara Duana 34, 32000 aak, Serbia


Uro M. Peovi, Sinia S. Rani

Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Kragujevac,
Svetog Save 65, 32000 aak, Serbia


Abstract: Electronic devices are widely used in many fields and agriculture is also one of
the areas with great intensity of applications in the last years. Electronic sensor devices
are particularly interesting because they are enable measure of parameters which have a
major impact on agriculture production. The use of electronic devices additionally came
to the fore with the development of wireless communication that allows gathering timely
information about the status of important parameters for vegetables and fruit crops.
Occurrences of frost represent high risk for orchard especially in the flowering stage
because low temperature can destroy flowers and therefore the overall yield of fruit. In
this paper system for frost detection in orchards was presented and database with
parameter values significant for user of the system. The system was based on wireless
sensor devices which collected data sent by GPRS network to WEB server where they are
stored for further analysis. Also WEB application was created to enable data distribution
to users.
Key words: frost protection, orchard, intelligent sensors, wireless sensor network, WEB
server.



Received:17.10.2013. / Accepted:15.12.2013.
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Introduction

In the conditions of the continental climate, characteristic for Serbia,
occurrences of frost are very often and may cause significant losses of fruit crops
due to low temperature damage. Fruit growers are faced with this problem since
the planting of orchards.
From the beginning of vegetation to the stage of fruit setting there are risk of
freezing unopened flowers, open flowers and newly fruits settings. Unopened
flowers are freezing on temperature of -5 to -8C, open flowers to -2C, where fruit
setting are damaged by frosting in temperatures from -1 to +2C. The last phase
from these three phases is characterized with the greatest sensitivity to the value of
temperature because the time of the year responsible for fruit setting occurs when
higher temperature is reached. These suitable temperature conditions are necessary
for developing of fruit setting but problems could cause occurrence of frost in the
late night hours when temperature could drop down and damage flowers.
Protective measure must be taken to save fruit in this situation, and some of them
are smoke cloud, heating air, temperature inversion, protection by water sprinkle or
irrigation, artificial fog.
Dense smoke curtain could be used to prevent heat transfer from the ground
and increase temperature in the orchard for 0,5C to 1,5C. But this method is
not offering safe protection in the case of strong frost. Machine with heater on
the basis of oil or other fuels are using to warm the air and its spreading. Cooling
of air in the area of orchard could be preventing continually adding worm air by
moving machine across orchard. Temperature inversion could be established by
giant ventilator which could push warm air in orchard area and increase
temperature for 2 or 3C which is quite enough for protection. Orchard frost
protection could be performed by irrigation and represent spraying flowers or
fruit settings with fine water drops in the form of mist when the temperature is
decrease below 0C and all the period during this critical temperature. The
method is based on exothermic process when turning water into solid physical
state is accompanied by the release of heat. Due to the low temperature, water on
wetting fruit quickly freezes, forming a protective crust on the surface, while the
inner tissue is not affected by cold due to release heat. With higher amounts of
water, within certain limits, frost protection could be accomplished at lower
temperature that could be hardly feasible with other methods. Spraying with
water must begin in the right time when temperature is drop down to 0C and
must continue all the time during period of low temperature without making
pause. The interruption of water spraying in orchard is unacceptable if lasts
longer than 3 to 4 minutes (Perry 1998, Sugar et al. 2003, Zatita voaka od
mraza).
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Methods for frost protection could be applied in the best manner if the fruit
growers have information when to intervene and prevent frost killing flower in
orchard. This information could be obtained by small wireless devices deployed
in orchards. Wireless devices is equipped by temperature and other sensors, they
communicate with main device and transmit gathering data to remote station.
Wireless sensor network (WSN) form in this way could monitor microclimate
conditions on covered orchard area; send current data on which value some
action could be performed, such as notification fruit growers about approaching
low temperature in the field. One of the automated WSN system for frost
protection were presented in Alboon et al. 2012 where sensor data were
collected to the controller who could use solid fuel burner to get an artificial
smoke cloud to keep temperature in orchard.
WSN technology were widely used in precision agriculture where one of the
possible purpose is also frost protection of vegetable or fruit crops (Valente et al.
2011, Ghobakhlou et al. 2009, Panchard et al. 2008, Shanmuganathan et al.
2008). Besides frost prediction and automated reaction or send notification to
system users, WSN system could be used in making decision about potential
places for planting. The aim of this work is to present Wireless sensor devices
that could send data by gateway node to remote server. This system could be
implementing very easy, gather sensor data and sending them using GPRS
services of mobile operators to servers. Then data could be analyzed and
notification could be send to users when condition reaches critical value.

Results and Discussion

Wireless sensor devices were placed on two locations in the same orchard
which is characterized by bigger slope, so there was a difference in altitude on
the field. Also special circumstances were represented by existence of small
water stream near lower point. Deploying wireless devices and monitoring
microclimate conditions specific results were obtain that show temperature
difference between these to measure points. Although there is no need for frost
protection in the wide range small water stream is responsible for lower
temperature in its near zone and that part of orchard is required some action from
farmers or fruit would be lost totally.
Implementation of the wireless system in this case contributes to determine
zone with special microclimate conditions. This situation on the field leads to
addition request for fruit growers that they did not take into account. Experience
by deploying wireless devices, gathering and processing data in this concrete
case could be mapped on much larger area and then could be used to asses were
the particular location the most appropriate for orchard.
System for frost detection is composed from number of mobile sensing
stations, which are capable to measure temperature and relative air humidity
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(Figures 1 and 2). Stations are equipped with SHT15 digital air temperature and
relative air humidity sensor, which offers small footprint and small power
consumption, for high precision and low sensor cost. Each sensor is individually
calibrated in a precision humidity chamber, which provides long term stability.
Temperature is measured by silicon bandgap sensor in range from -40C to
125C with air temperature accuracy 0.3C. Relative air humidity is measured
by capacitive sensing sensor in range from 0 to 100% with relative air humidity
of accuracy 2%. Sensors can be equipped with protective membrane, which
protects sensor from dirt and droplets from entering sensor housing. Sensors are
also equipped with small heater which can be turned on in order to dry sensor or
test its functionality. Sensors are equipped with one time programmable memory
which stores calibration data and digital I2C digital communication interface
which is used to read air temperature and relative air humidity, as well as issuing
commands by microcontroller.
Main component of mobile sensing station represents digital microcontroller,
which is responsible for overall control of mobile station functionalities.
Microcontroller used in this station is based on Telit GM862-GPS module,
which controls operation of mobile sensing station using commands written in
Easy Python script. Besides microcontroller functionalities integrates
GSM/GPRS modem, as well as GPS receiver. GSM/GPRS quad-band modem
enables remote communication using mobile network which is almost available
worldwide. Besides voice and SMS messages, modem can communicate using
Internet services thought GPRS service, such as HTTP, FTP and E-mail. This
functionality enables simple interaction with users worldwide, using personal
computers of smart telephones. GPS receiver enables detection of mobile station
location, with 2.5 m precision, using 20-channel high sensitivity SiRFstarIII
single-chip GPS receiver. Microcontroller has low power consumption so it is
designed for battery powered operation with Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer
batteries, in voltage range from 3.2 to 4.2V. In order to make mobile stations
completely independent they are equipped with photovoltaic solar cells which
are used for recharging batteries. Use of solar energy power supply, offers cheap
and reliable energy source, which doesnt require maintenance as frequent
battery replacement or any addition cost as electrical power used from
distribution grid.

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Figure 1. Wireless sensor stations placed in different zones

Mobile sensing station software, written in Phyton, first initializes GPS
service and tries to determine GPS coordinates of mobile station. As GPS fix is
acquired, station connects to GPRS service, and registers at web server reporting
it identification number, as well as acquired GPS coordinates. After successful
registration web server sends server time to mobile station which presents its
clock, in order to perform regular reports at certain instances in time (currently
set to 15 minute report interval). Microcontroller reads measures air temperature
and relative air humidity values from SHT15 sensors, forms HTTP GET request
which is sent to web server. Besides these two values, sensor reports battery
voltage level as well as cycle ratio which is used for mobile station diagnostics.
After successful transmission, mobile station goes to low power operating mode
in order to preserve battery energy, from which is woken by clock, when another
report interval begins.
On the server side web application was developed using Java technology.
Software application has three main parts: HTTP GET request parsing, application
logic and presentation data. The first segment of software solution has a role to
parse and accept data sent from mobile stations. It was realized with servlet which
has ability to communicate by HTTP protocol. Accepted data were store to
database and could be used for further analysis. Application logic is used for data
calculation and creating array of data for web presentation to the users. For making
decisions users of the system need some calculated values such as average or
minimal and maximal value for defined time period. User could interact with Web
applications through appropriate user interface and set task to the system according
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to their needs. Results of the users requests were presented on the web page while
in the background there are conducted data processing on stored data.
Except searching and analyzing data stored in the past web application has
the ability to presenting current data in the real time. The last arrived data from
the field station is shown on the main page of the web application. So that user
could monitor field conditions from any computer which has access to Internet.
Server side system could be upgraded with web application customized for smart
phones or with module for sending SMS to users based on the set tasks.


Figure 2. Wireless sensor station in the orchard


Conclusion

The development of new electronic devices, such as smart sensors, provides
the conditions for the expansion of their use. One of the new areas of application
of smart sensors is agriculture. This paper gives an example of using smart
sensors and their networks to detect the appearance of frost in orchards. The
developed system, and conducted measurements, shown that the occurrence of
frost can be detected successfully. The system enables detection of occurrence of
frost in orchards and memorizing the received data on the web server. Further
research is planned to implement a system for informing users about the
occurrence of frost. Also planned are researches regarding activation of adequate
protection in case of occurrence frost.


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Acknowledgement

Work presented in this paper was funded by grant
TR32043 for the period 2011-2014, by the Ministry of education, Science and
Technology Development of the Republic of Serbia.

References

Alboon A. S., Alqudah T. A., Al-Zoubi R. H., Athamneh A. A. 2012. Fully automated
smart wireless frost prediction and protection system using a fuzzy logic controller.
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voarstvo, Voarski Glasnik br. 1.
Ghobakhlou A., Shanmuganthan S., Sallis P. 2009. Wireless Sensor Networks for Climate
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Panchard J., Rao S., Sheshshayee S. M., Papadimitratos P., Kumar S., Hubaux J-P. 2008.
Wireless Sensor Networking For Rain-fed Farming Decision Support, Proceedings
of the second ACM SIGCOMM workshop on Networked systems for developing
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Perry B. K. 1998. Basics of Frost and Freeze Protection for Horticultural Crops. Hort
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Shanmuganathan S., Ghobakhlou A., Sallis P. 2008. Sensors for modeling the effects of
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Sugar D., Gold R., Lombard P. and Gardea A. 2003. In: Oregon Viticulture, Strategies for
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Valente J., Sanz D., Barrientos A., del Cerro J., Ribeiro A., Rossi C. 2011. An Air-
Ground Wireless Sensor Network for Crop Monitoring. Sensors, 11: 6088-6108.

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Beini informacioni sistem detekcije mrazeva u vonjacima

- originalni nauni rad -

Duan B. Markovi, Ivan P. Glii



Agronomski fakultet, Univerzitet u Kragujevcu,
Cara Duana 34, 32000 aak, Srbija


Uro M. Peovi, Sinia S. Rani

Fakultet tehnikih nauka, Univerzitet u Kragujevcu,
Svetog Save 65, 32000 aak, Srbija


Rezime

Poljoprivreda je postala jedna od oblasti u kojoj primena elektronskih ureaja
dobija na intenzitetu. Posebno znaajan aspekt primene obuhvata oblast merenja
razliitih parametara koji utiu na poljoprivrednu proizvodnju. Primena elektronskih
ureaja u poljoprivredi dodatno je dola do izraaja sa razvojem beinih
komunikacija, jer se na taj nain omoguava pravovremena informacija o stanju
parametara vanih, npr. za vonjake, povrtnjake i dr. Pojava mraza predstavlja veliku
opasnost za vonjake posebno u fazi cvetanja, jer moe doi do unitenja celokupnog
roda. U ovom radu je prikazan sistem za detektovanje mraza u vonjacima i
formiranje baze podataka o intenzitetu mraza i vremenu kada je do njega dolo.
Sistem je realizovan na bazi beinih senzora, koji prikupljene podatke putem GPRS
mree prosleuju WEB serveru na kome se podaci upisuju u odgovarajuu bazu
podataka. Realizovana je i odgovarajua WEB aplikacija koja omoguava
distribuciju zapamenih podataka do krajnjeg korisnika.
Kljune rei: Mraz, vonjak, inteligentni senzori, beine senzorske mree, WEB
server