Design and Development of a Solar Powered Smart Irrigation System: An Adaptive Process Model

Abstract

This paper shows the prototype design of a smart irrigation system using Internet of Things (IoT) for monitoring a vegetable farm. It is a model prototype for a small community or a barangay where vegetable farmers can utilize it for a more productive vegetable output. An adoptive process of development was utilized from traditional irrigation transforming into a modernized irrigation system through an adaptive process. Hardware and software specification requirement were identified as well as input and output requirements. A machine learning application was used where a manual concept was modeled for a development of its counterpart. A block circuit diagram illustrates the function of smart irrigation system that contain the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and wi-fi modules, microcontrollers, relays, transistors, capacitors and other circuit devices. A photovoltaic power supply was utilized to drive the circuit board for the electronic functions. Cloud computing coupled with the use of several development software like Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP), MySQL database and Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) were utilized.
The smart irrigation prototype was built at the nursery of the City of Cauayan, Isabela, Philippines. Technical aspects were evaluated by Information Technology Experts and was validated using quality standards on IoT Application Quality Management (IoT-AQM). The Philippine government is promoting the utilization of solar energy to help farmers for a more produce for the purpose of sustainable farming and food security. It is recommended for small projects of every barangay so that vegetable farmers can gradually adapt the modernize methods of irrigation system of farming in the Philippines