Model Predictive Control of Smart Greenhouses as the Path towards Near Zero Energy Consumption

Abstract

Modern agriculture represents an economic sector that can mainly benefit from technology innovation according to the principles suggested by Industry 4.0 for smart farming systems. Greenhouse industry is significantly becoming more and more technological and automatized to improve the quality and efficiency of crop production. Smart greenhouses are equipped with forefront IoT- and ICT-based monitoring and control systems. New remote sensors, devices, networking communication, and control strategies can make available real-time information about crop health, soil, temperature, humidity, and other indoor parameters. Energy efficiency plays a key role in this context, as a fundamental path towards sustainability of the production. This paper is a review of the precision and sustainable agriculture approaches focusing on the current advance technological solution to monitor, track, and control greenhouse systems to enhance production in a more sustainable way. Thus, we compared and analyzed traditional versus model predictive control methods with the aim to enhance indoor microclimate condition management under an energy-saving approach. We also reviewed applications of sustainable approaches to reach nearly zero energy consumption, while achieving nearly zero water and pesticide use.

Model Predictive Control versus Traditional Relay Control in a High Energy Efficiency Greenhouse

“…Specific literature has been devoted to MPC methods applied to control different components of a greenhouse [62]. In references [63,64], the authors implemented an optimal strategy to regulate the operational parameters for heating and cooling systems by means of an MPC.…”

Agricultural Production in Qatar’s Hot Arid Climate

“…Moreover, agricultural business' diversification is increased through the provision of a greater variety of cultivated crops [27]. The advances of smart greenhouse technology (e.g., water-saving irrigation techniques and optimal resource management of many inputs like pest control and nutriments) enable crop production with minimal or greatly reduced inputs of energy, water and pesticides while maximizing crop yield [92]. Therefore, technological advancements in smart greenhouses enhancing productivity, water-saving irrigation techniques, and optimal resource management reducing the cost of production, offer an additional opportunity to expand domestic food production.…”

Developing a Modern Greenhouse Scientific Research Facility—A Case Study

“…The building strategy of the modern greenhouse is focused on equipment, sensors and processes that are energy efficient. Bersani et al [15] wrote an article on precision and sustainable agriculture approaches that focuses on the current advanced technological solution to monitor, track and control greenhouse systems to make production more sustainable. Pentikousis et al [16] discusses the communication environment of the sensors to transmit their data and propose server-side data aggregation methods.…”