For studies of thermal performance, computational modeling has been presented as an important decision-making tool to solve complex and everyday problems in poultry production and research. Thus, the present study aimed to validate computational models developed using the EnergyPlus software package and, based on these, evaluate the thermal performance of a poultry house with different types of tiles (thermoacoustic, ceramic, fiber-cement, and metal). The research consisted of two stages: an experimental phase and another phase in which the climatic conditions in four aviary models are numerically simulated, considering different types of tiles. The experimental phase was conducted in two climate seasons, winter (2019) and summer (2020), where air temperature and relative air humidity data were measured and recorded using six HOBO model H12 data loggers distributed inside an aviary located in the semiarid region of Pernambuco state, Brazil. For the computer simulation, a virtual model of the house was developed using the OpenStudio graphical user interface in Sketchup, and the thermal performance was calculated using the EnergyPlus software package. The models were validated, showing a strong correlation between the experimental and simulated data, with Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) values greater than 0.95. The simulations demonstrated the influence of the roof tiles on the thermal performance of the evaluated building. For the climatic conditions of the semiarid region of the Pernambuco state, thermoacoustic roof tiles presented the best thermal performance, followed by ceramic, fiber-cement, and metal roof tiles.

A B S T R A C TThe knowledge on the spatial variability of climatic attributes and the building of Kriging maps can assist in the design and management of confined animal facilities, by allowing a spatial visualization that is helpful for the planning and control of information from the production environment. The study aimed to characterize the spatial variability of air temperature in a free-stall barn used for dairy cattle confinement located in Petrolina-PE, Brazil, in different seasons and at different times. The variable air temperature was recorded at 136 points distributed in the areas under the shed and the shade cloth for the study of spatial variability and the construction of maps by Kriging. Air temperature data was collected in the winter and in the summer, in the months of July and August (2013) and January and February (2014), at different times (9 and 15 h). According to the results, the use of geostatistics enabled to define areas with different spatial variabilities in air temperature and specific areas in the free-stall with values higher than the recommended levels for thermal comfort. In addition, the central part of the facility is the region with the lowest values of air temperatures, due to the presence of a ridge vent.Variabilidade espacial da temperatura do ar de um free-stall na região semiárida nordestina do Brasil R E S U M O O conhecimento da variabilidade espacial de atributos climáticos e a construção de mapas de krigagem podem auxiliar no projeto e no manejo de instalações para animais confinados, ao permitir uma visão espacial útil ao planejamento e ao controle das informações do ambiente de produção. O trabalho teve, como objetivo principal, caracterizar a variabilidade espacial da temperatura do ar de um galpão free-stall utilizado para confinamento de bovinos leiteiros, localizado na cidade de Petrolina, PE, em diferentes estações e horários. A variável temperatura do ar foi registrada em 136 pontos distribuídos na área do galpão e sombrite, para o estudo da variabilidade espacial e a construção de mapas por krigagem. As coletas dos dados de temperatura do ar foram realizadas nas estações de inverno e verão, nos meses de julho e agosto (2013), janeiro e fevereiro (2014) em diferentes horários (9 e 15 h). Por meio dos resultados obtidos foi possível definir áreas com diferentes variabilidades espaciais para temperatura do ar e áreas específicas no free-stall que apresentaram valores acima do recomendado para o conforto térmico animal. Notou-se também que a parte central da instalação é a região que apresentou os menores valores de temperatura do ar devido à presença de um lanternim.

RESUMO: O atual cenário agrícola mundial evidencia a necessidade do emprego de dispositivos para o monitoramento dos processos produtivos e aquisição de informações que subsidiem a tomada de decisão. Nesse sentido, objetivou-se com este trabalho comparar dados de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar obtidos a partir de sensores de baixo custo, protegidos em um abrigo meteorológico confeccionado a partir de PVC, com dados de duas estações meteorológicas para fins de aferição. Os sensores utilizados foram o LM35DZ, para a temperatura do ar, e o HIH-4030-4031, para a umidade relativa do ar. Foram confeccionadas placas de circuito impresso para acomodação e condicionamento do sinal dos sensores teste de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar. Os equipamentos foram instalados em condições de campo, nas estações meteorológicas automáticas localizadas em Juazeiro-BA e Petrolina-PE, sendo os circuitos dos sensores teste conectados a um data logger desenvolvido na Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF). A partir da coleta dos dados, foram realizadas análises estatísticas de regressão. Com a similaridade encontrada entre os dados obtidos a partir dos sensores protegidos em abrigo de PVC com os dados obtidos a partir dos sensores utilizados nas estações meteorológicas da UNIVASF e da Embrapa Semiárido, foi comprovada a viabilidade de uso em condições de campo do LM35DZ e do HIH-4030-4031 em abrigo confeccionado com PVC. A confiabilidade dos dados obtidos mostrou ser possível reduzir custos nas atividades agrícolas e de pesquisa acadêmica que envolvam a medição dessas variáveis ambientais. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Data logger, policloreto de vinila, variáveis ambientais. ABSTRACT:The current global agricultural scenario shows the need for devices that monitor production processes and the acquisition of information that support decision making. In this sense, the aim of this work was to compare data from temperature and relative humidity obtained from low cost sensors, protected in a weather shelter made from PVC, with data from two weather stations for the purpose of benchmarking. The sensors used were LM35DZ to measure the air temperature, and the HIH-4030-4031, to measure the relative humidity. Printed circuit boards were made for accommodation and signal conditioning of the temperature and relative humidity test sensors. The equipment was installed in field conditions at the automatic weather stations located in Juazeiro-BA and Petrolina-PE, and the test circuits of sensors were connected to a data logger developed at the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF). A statistical regression analyzes was performed to analyze the data. The similarity found between the data obtained from the protected shelter of PVC with data obtained from sensors used in weather stations from UNIVASF and Embrapa Semi-Arid sensors, proved the feasible of using the LM35DZ HIH and 4030-4031 made with PVC in field conditions. The reliability of the data obtained proved that is possible to reduce costs in agricultural activities a...

The spatial variability in meteorological conditions was evaluated in two small ruminant house with different constructive aspects, based on the variables of dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and temperature humidity index (THI), through the generation of maps using the Kriging interpolation method. The experiment was conducted in two seasons, winter and summer, and the small ruminant house were denominated as: FNRG (facility at ground level with no ridge vent) and FWRG (facility at ground level and with ridge vent). The studied parameters were recorded by portable digital sensors, thermo-anemometers and thermo-hygrometers, with data collections at 9 am and 3 pm. With the analysis of the spatial variability of the data, it was observed that the pens positioned in the central region of the two facilities had the least stressful places to animals in two seasons and two times, where the FWRG presented larger areas with lower temperatures, within the comfort zone, compared to the FNRG due to the presence of the ridge vents, were the least stressful places for the animals in the two seasons and at the two data collection times. At 9 am, in the winter and summer, both facilities presented comfortable conditions for the rearing of goats and sheep in the morning that were not observed at 3 pm.

This study aimed to analyze bioclimatic indexes: black globe temperature and humidity index (BGHI) and radiant thermal load (RTL) in Santa Inês sheep farms, with and without coverage to develop a fuzzy logical computational model to forecast variables analyzed experimentally. Ten Santa Inês sheep were placed in two cover paddocks, and one without cover. Data recorded were: air temperature schedules and black globe (°C), relative humidity (%) and wind speed (m s -1 ), and BGHI and RTL were calculated. Computational models were developed using fuzzy logic which had as input variables, air temperature (°C) relative humidity (%) for the output variables BGHI and RTL. Based on the experimental data, there were also certain relevance curves that conform more to the results for the model generation via Fuzzy logic. The Mandani inference method was used for the preparation of rules and defuzzification of the center of gravity method was applied. The results showed that in the critical periods, 12 to 14 h, coverage was insufficient to differentiate between stress environments. It was also found that the Fuzzy models compared with the experimental data were highly correlated with R² equal to 0.99, proving it is suitable for implementation in practice.