Environmental parameters monitoring in precision agriculture using wireless sensor networks

The 2011 EU Common Agricultural Policy aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the agricultural sector, to promote innovation, contribute to environmental protection and to support jobs and growth in rural areas. The consecutive reforms in agricultural policy have created adequate environment for developing and implementing innovative, environmentally friendly farming methods, allowing the farmers to increase the production and manage the local environment, which is essential for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector. In this paper, wireless sensor network architecture for vegetable greenhouse is proposed in order to achieve scientific cultivation and lower management costs from the aspect of environmental monitoring. According to the analysis of the features of greenhouse environment, a practical and low-cost greenhouse monitoring system is designed based on wireless sensor network technology in order to monitor key environmental parameters such as the temperature, humidity and illumination. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.