Executive Summary

The agricultural sector is undergoing a transformation driven by technological innovation and digitalization. This business case presents the development of an IoT system for forage production monitoring, designed to optimize resource management, enhance productivity, and improve decision-making for farmers. By leveraging data analytics and mobile technology, the system addresses critical challenges faced by farmers in managing forage production effectively.

Problem Statement

Farmers face numerous challenges in monitoring and managing forage production, including:

  • Lack of centralized control and visibility over equipment and production metrics.
  • Difficulty in tracking real-time data on hay bales, temperature, and drying processes.
  • Inefficiencies caused by reliance on manual methods and disjointed systems.

Proposed Solution

Develop a comprehensive IoT system that includes a mobile application for monitoring and managing various aspects of forage production, including:

  • Remote control and monitoring of dryers.
  • Real-time temperature monitoring in storage facilities.
  • Tracking of hay bales, including geolocation and yield data.
  • Flow meter monitoring to optimize solution usage.

Objectives

  • Centralized Management: Provide a single interface for controlling and monitoring agricultural machinery and storage facilities.
  • Real-Time Data Access: Enable farmers to access vital data anytime, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.
  • Enhanced Monitoring: Facilitate the tracking of production metrics, leading to better resource allocation and higher yields.

Key Features

  1. Mobile App Development: A cross-platform application for iOS and Android that consolidates data from sensors, dryers, and flow meters.
  2. Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous tracking of temperature and humidity in storage, as well as flow rates for hay solutions.
  3. Bale Tracking and Geolocation: Accurate counting and GPS tracking of hay bales during harvesting.
  4. Remote Dryer Control: Ability to start, stop, and monitor drying processes remotely, ensuring optimal conditions for forage preservation.

Technologies Utilized

  • Qt Framework: For cross-platform mobile app development, ensuring compatibility with both iOS and Android devices.
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS): Utilizing AWS Lambda, Amazon SNS, and DynamoDB for data processing and storage.
  • BLE and LoRaWAN: For seamless communication between sensors and the mobile application.

Economic Impact

The implementation of this IoT system is expected to yield substantial economic benefits:

  • Cost Efficiency: Reduced labor costs and minimized product loss due to better monitoring of forage quality.
  • Increased Productivity: Improved tracking of hay bales and optimized drying processes leading to higher yields.
  • Enhanced Sustainability: Better resource management contributes to sustainable farming practices, appealing to environmentally-conscious consumers.

Conclusion

The proposed IoT system for forage production monitoring represents a significant advancement in agricultural technology. By integrating data analytics and mobile applications, farmers can gain greater control over their operations, leading to increased profitability and sustainability. This business case advocates for investment in the development of this innovative solution, which has the potential for wide-scale adoption in the agricultural sector.