Digital Transformation of Agriculture through the Use of an Interoperable Platform

Abstract

The continuous evolution of the agricultural sector justifies the incorporation and adaptation of the latest technologies. Nowadays, managing crops is possible through Internet-based technologies. Their application allows for the exploitation of information and the development of isolated applications, which, although powerful, create challenges for obtaining scalable predictions throughout the useful life of farms. To address this problem, a data model was defined to improve the management of crop plots in irrigation communities and simultaneously monitor crop needs. Consequently, the objective of this study was to create an open and interoperable platform based on standard interfaces and protocols to enable the integration of heterogeneous sources of information, while ensuring interoperability with other third-party solutions for exchanging and exploiting such information. Standard and open interfaces and protocols form the basis of the platform, thereby unifying all information in a single data model, which facilitates the better use and dissemination of information. The system was fully instantiated in a real prototype in an irrigation community; the software improved water irrigation management for the farmers connected to the platform.

IRRISENS: An IoT Platform Based on Microservices Applied in Commercial-Scale Crops Working in a Multi-Cloud Environment

“…In the study here presented, we used a microservice-based approach similar to the microservice-based architectures discussed in [ 23 , 24 , 32 ], focused on message flow and the structure supporting that. A digital model was also present in the platforms introduced in [ 40 ] and in [ 22 ]. In [ 22 ], the platform was used to improve the management of crop plots and monitor crop needs for irrigation purposes and its core was the NGSI-LD broker.…”

“…A digital model was also present in the platforms introduced in [ 40 ] and in [ 22 ]. In [ 22 ], the platform was used to improve the management of crop plots and monitor crop needs for irrigation purposes and its core was the NGSI-LD broker. In the work here presented, however, IRRISENS introduces a “digital model” and “crop parameter” microservices as the core of the microservice dataflow.…”

“…IoT platforms may be based on software frameworks such as FIWARE [ 14 , 16 , 22 ], proprietary or custom-made software frameworks following a multitude of software architectures [ 23 ] or microservices-based architecture [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. FIWARE makes interoperability between applications called enablers and has the context broker ORION in its core.…”

IRRISENS: An IoT Platform Based on Microservices Applied in Commercial-Scale Crops Working in a Multi-Cloud Environment

“…Such platforms may be based on software frameworks such as FIWARE [14,16], [22], proprietary or custom-made software frameworks following a multitude of software architectures [23] or microservices-based architecture [24], [25], [26], [27]. FIWARE makes interoperability between applications called enablers and has the context broker ORION in its core.…”

“…Both providers manage their equipment through a cloud service, and they use different field communication technology with its own protocols, data organization and communication APIs to collect data and interact with field equipment. [14], [11], [22] Applicationspecific and generic services…”