IoT systems for digital
irrigation
Digital transformation, IoT and systems integration for centralised machine management
THE CHALLENGE
Digital transformation, IoT and system integration are the driving factors for companies in the irrigation sector in their search for a system capable of optimising an organisation managed with non-integrated tools and unable to achieve the desired operational efficiency and profitability objectives. As multinational companies in the supply of irrigation machinery and systems, a fundamental requirement is the implementation of a system that, installed on the machine, would allow remote control of irrigation activities according to the specific characteristics of the site. Ambient temperature, soil composition, soil moisture and obstacles in the area where the irrigation machine is working are just a few examples of the aspects that had to be taken into account in order to automate the work.
THE CHALLENGE
Digital transformation, IoT and system integration were the driving factors for OCMIS Irrigazione Spa in its search for a system capable of optimising an organisation managed with non-integrated tools and unable to achieve the desired operational efficiency and profitability objectives. As a benchmark multinational company in the supply of irrigation machinery and systems, a fundamental requirement was the implementation of a system that, installed on the machine, would allow remote control of irrigation activities according to the specific characteristics of the site. Ambient temperature, soil composition, soil moisture and obstacles in the area where the irrigation machine is working are just a few examples of the aspects that had to be taken into account in order to automate the work.
THE SOLUTION
Through the creation of a dedicated web service, machines distributed in fields all over the world have been connected, providing technical data on their use. The creation of a dedicated mobile app, developed for Android and iOS platforms, allows the end user to have a fully integrated management system that allows user to analyse and manage all the machines from a single interface, taking into account the environment (field, crop, weather) in which they operate. The devices in the field continuously exchange data with a web server. Artificial intelligence analyses the data and provides the user with all the information needed to manage irrigation. Moisture sensors provide information on the condition of the soil and, combined with weather forecasts, indicate where, when and how to irrigate.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS AND RESULTS
The management of the machines through a dedicated webserver allows a centralisation of data useful to effectively plan the irrigation of fields, significantly reducing the waste of water resources and increasing the efficiency of dedicated energy resources.
TECHNOLOGIES IN USE IN THE PROJECT
The key tools that EUROSYSTEM2000 used to successfully complete this project are: