JOURNEY FROM REACTIVE TO PROACTIVE GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT
MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND TRADITIONAL PARADIGMS
by András Ujszászi – CTO
How current paradigms will change as a result of on automation, robotization, artificial intelligence, data analysis in greenhouses. This series of articles will cover all the steps how traditional greenhouse operators can change to become modern and innovative actor of this competing market.
CURRENT SITUATION AND VISION
As many other industries, the greenhouse industry is facing huge problems such as higher wages, the shortage of labor, changing workforce habits, profit expectations, need of higher productivity, increasing competition.
Technology companies were the first who tried to tackle the new challenges with flexible working conditions, agile working methods, better software products, and digitalization.
The greenhouse industry is special, because most of the activities require personal attendance, and the mentioned modern workforce management patterns cannot be applied.
If we are looking at production companies like car factories, it is possible to see similar patterns to greenhouses such as personal attendance, repetitive workflows, time pressure, etc. These factories are first in solving the above-mentioned problems with digitization, robotization, workflow and logistical optimization.
Regarding the workforce in many industries knowledge and abilities are changing and part of the work force are not trained mechanics any more rather managers who understand the ecosystem of the production plant, and are able to manage this ecosystem containing IoT devices, robots, ERP systems, production management systems, etc. The regular daily work is based on data analysis, decision-making is based on collected data, and fast activity in order to keep the production on track.
The decision-making process is a very demanding and responsible job. Based on data analysis it is becoming more and more effective yet remaining a highly proactive activity.
What does this mean? Acting before something happens is what affects productivity.
In the near future (the next couple of years), these innovations will infiltrate to the greenhouse industry, because currently most of the plants are operating as they did 40 years ago and the requirements can only be met by using new technologies, and by adapting a proactive approach instead of a reactive one.
DATA IS THE KING
All the innovative decision-making solutions are based on data collection, data management and data analysis. Imagine that Bosch is able to radically decrease the downtime of his machines by introducing a predictive maintenance solution. Meaning they collect data from the machines on heat, speed, noise they are producing, etc. Based on these data they are able to figure out which part of the machine will probably go wrong and will affect the production.
Regarding greenhouse management this kind of operation can help proactively manage all the conditions in the plant like irrigation, humidity, light conditions, growth of biomass, etc.
If we collect enough data from the greenhouse, after a couple of months we will be able to see the patterns of greenhouse conditions and the consequences of our activity.
So, we can make the necessary decisions and activities based on data, this is the “predictive maintenance” in the greenhouse.
What do you need to reach this stage of greenhouse management?
First, you have to start collecting data from your greenhouse in order to be able to set up patterns and match these patterns with your activities and production results.
As millions of data are collected in a greenhouse on daily basis it is necessary not to analyze data in Excel or other traditional software but use a software solution like Gremon Digital to be able to see behind the data and draw conclusions.
GREMON DIGITAL DASHBOARD
Based on interviews with agronomists it is an interesting question how they managed to produce 57 kg/sqm tomato in on year and only 65 kg/sqm in another year. No one was able to explain what was affecting the growth or the decrease in production because “we did the same both years” – they said. This question can be answered based on data analysis, and the better production can be repeated in the years to come – because we know exactly what conditions we were experiencing and what activities we made.
In the next section we will explain how machine learning and artificial intelligence will provide the ultimate proactivity and how it is leading toward autonomous greenhouse operation.
DATA IS THE NEW FARMER
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are close friends to each other, AI is unable to function efficiently without historical data. So, the first step toward AI supported decision making and proactive greenhouse management is collecting data from as many sources as we can.
You will need data regarding:
- Temperature
- CO2
- Irrigation
- VPD
- Plant temperature
- Biomass weight
- Plant condition
- Climate computer data
- Human labour
Based on all the collected information, after several data cleaning processes, a homogenous data collection will be available which is a good base for AI to start working with. A logical question comes up, how long should I collect data to have a good data pool? Usually 6 – 10 months of data collection is necessary, because AI must be able to prepare a lot of patterns from the collected data, the interactions, and the results. Let us see an example of a pattern:
WHAT HAPPENED?
- P-band value is high
- Humidity is increasing
- VPD value is getting low
- Plant breathing and water absorption is slowing down
- CO2 fixation is slowing down
WHAT WAS THE REACTION?
- Climate computer is opening the ventilation
- Vapour leaves through the fans
- Cool air comes in through the fans
- CO2 escapes through the fans, the concentration is getting lower
- Heating starts operating
WHAT WAS THE RESULT?
- During this cycle CO2 is lost
- Plant speed is lost
- Extra heating is needed
Based on historical data, AI is creating hundreds of patterns like the ones mentioned, with more than the mentioned variables. The number of patterns and variations are always growing, this is how AI is becoming more and more efficient, this is how it is able to advise the optimal steps in order to keep all the optimal conditions between normal values in the greenhouse.
What will you experience when using an AI based solution?
Basically, you will see alerts and suggestions, depending on the seriousness of the conditions.
On the dashboard you will see suggestions as:
- Keep + 0.7 Celsius night temperature
- The energy screen should be opened 15 minutes earlier next morning
- The first irrigation should start at 7.15 am
AI will always try to match actual conditions and data to match one or several patterns and see what the best reaction was that resulted in e.g. the best daily biomass growth (or some other important parameter).
Another important issue is, that AI systems are always fine tuning the patterns and will learn from new experiences, which resulted in better predictions than the previous one.
What can be the result of a data driven greenhouse management?
First, you will be able to experience a constant yield, and predictable business. You will be able to calculate and predict the cost of your resources much better, also manage the human resources more efficiently.
AI is a solution for greenhouse owners and managers that allows them to focus on other important issues in their business., For consultants this is a big advantage to give exact advices based on data. AI is still a machine that can do much more calculations than humans, but all the algorithms making AI work is made by IT professionals and consultants because the knowledge is on their side, they will be the key participants of the AI ecosystem.
At Gremon Systems we are working to establish Gremon Digital AI supported ecosystem, keep tuned to receive Gremon Digital news.